Joe Montana’s son arrested on DUI

MISSOULA — The son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana pleaded not guilty today to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding after an early morning traffic stop in which he declined a breathalyzer test. Nate Montana, 21, was arrested in Missoula about 3:15 a.m. today and booked on a first-offense DUI charge. He was released a half-hour later after posting a $685 bond and entered his not guilty plea in an initial court appearance this afternoon. Montana’s attorney, Milt Datsopoulos, told the Missoulian newspaper that neither he nor the University of Montana quarterback had an immediate comment on the charges. “We don’t really have any information, but we will be gathering that information quickly. When we have some information, we will make a statement,” Datsopoulos said. Montana transferred from Notre Dame to the University of Montana in February and is vying for the starting quarterback spot. He was one of 11 Notre Dame athletes arrested on misdemeanor charges of underage drinking at a party in South Bend, Ind., last July. A Missoula County sheriff’s deputy initially stopped Montana’s car for speeding, authorities said. The deputy smelled alcohol coming from the car and asked Montana to perform a field sobriety test, said sheriff’s detective Jason Johnson. “He did poorly enough on those maneuvers for the deputy to ask him for the breath test,” Johnson told the Missoulian. “Mr. Montana declined that test and he was detained.” Montana repeated the field sobriety test at the detention facility and again declined to take a breath test, Johnson said. Several passengers were in the car, but Montana was the driver and the only person cited. Montana’s next court appearance has been set for Aug. 3. University of Montana Executive Vice President Jim Foley said the administration will continue to monitor the judicial process and any discipline will be handled internally.