Missoula man sentenced to 6 years in prison for shooting at utility crew during '24 storm

On July 24, 2024, a windstorm swept through Missoula, leaving NorthWestern Energy employees working long into the night and early morning of July 25 to bring back power and fix infrastructure. Three such employees were on a call to fix a burst natural gas line around midnight on July 24 when Dixon's car came speeding into their job site, ramming into a fallen tree, according to testimony at trial.

The group left Dixon there, but later re-encountered him as he drove behind them, maneuvered around them, and disappeared into the darkness behind a fallen tree. Then the three heard gunshots whizzing past their heads. 

The next morning, Dixon was arrested at his workplace. A snub-nose revolver was found in his backpack, and evergreen needles were found lodged in the front bumper of his truck. His Toyota matched the description and video given by the NorthWestern employees.

After three hours of deliberation, the jury returned with a guilty verdict on three counts of assault with a weapon, one for each employee. 

All three employees gave statements at the sentencing hearing.

"Many innocent people could have been hurt or killed," one said. "The fact that no one was severely injured does not change how serious this was." 

Another employee testified that the incident had compromised his sense of safety and trust.

"I ask the court to consider the seriousness of intentionally endangering first responders during an emergency situation," he said. 

The third employee said the sound of the bullets whizzing past her head and the terror she felt are still embedded in her life.

"I would like to thank you for reminding me how fragile life really is," she addressed Dixon. "I also wanna thank you for being a terrible shot." 

She urged the judge to hold Dixon accountable for his conduct.

Dixon's defense attorney Miva VanEngen called a doctor who conducted a psychological evaluation on Dixon to the stand, who testified that she didn't believe incarceration would benefit Dixon or make him less likely to reoffend. 

"Folks don't usually come out of prison in a better place than when they entered," she said. 

After witnesses were heard, prosecutor Brandon Zeak argued for Dixon to be sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation. 

"The defendants were not engaged in any personal dispute with the defendant — they didn't even know the guy," Zeak said. "He transformed that emergency work into a life-threatening event and turned their job site into a shooting range." 

VanEngen argued for Dixon to receive 10 years of probation. She pointed to his lack of criminal history, as well as his military service. Dixon served in the Marines from 2012 to 2016 and the Army in 2023 and 2024. 

Marks sentenced Dixon to eight years in prison followed by seven years of probation. Because Dixon has spent two years in jail throughout this case, those years will be taken off his prison time, leaving him with a total prison time of six years.