Montana senator’s wife makes deal with federal prosecutors

WASHINGTON — The wife of Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., reached a deal with federal prosecutors Wednesday to avoid prosecution on a misdemeanor assault charge.

Wanda Baucus, 56, will enter a first-time offender program for allegedly assaulting a woman at a garden center in April.

“This is not a guilty plea,” her attorney David Schertler told reporters outside the courthouse.

Schertler said once Baucus successfully completes the “diversion program,” as it’s called, the charges against her will be dropped.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, to enter the program, a person must not have any prior criminal convictions, excluding traffic offenses. The defendant must also admit to their criminal responsibility, though that is not a guilty plea.

Baucus is expected to perform 40 hours of community service for a nonprofit organization.

The program runs six months and during that time she cannot violate any court orders or be rearrested.

Both the defense and prosecution agreed to Baucus entering the program, as did District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Brian Holeman.

Baucus made no comment in the courtroom but told reporters outside she felt “good” about the proceedings.

She would not comment further.

“We’re satisfied with the resolution of the case,” said Schertler.

The senator’s wife was arrested Apr. 21 after a dispute at Johnson’s Nursery in Northwest Washington.

A D.C. Metropolitan Police Department spokesman said Baucus was upset that she wasn’t getting help loading mulch into her car, while another customer was.

Police said witnesses reported seeing Baucus putting a bag of mulch behind the other woman’s car, preventing her from leaving.

The two exchanged words, and Baucus allegedly hit her several times.

Sen. Baucus was hospitalized Wednesday at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where he had undergone a nonsurgical procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat.

In an earlier statement about his wife, the senator said, “I stand by her 110 percent, and she has my full support.”

Wanda Baucus’ next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 2.