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Montana man sentenced in death of Mission Valley woman

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Justin Parizeau and Cassandra Harris

POLSON – A 23-year-old Ronan man is headed to prison for the next 10 years for his part in the death of a young Mission Valley woman.

Judge Jim Manley sentenced Joseph Parizeau on a criminal endangerment charge in the death of 24-year-old Cassandra Harris.

Parizeau is accused of pushing Harris out of a moving pickup truck near McDonald Lake last June on a road north of Saint Ignatius.

Court documents also say Parizeau, along with three others, left Harris on the side of the road even though they knew she was hurt. She later died in the hospital.

Parizeau was originally charged with negligent homicide, but prosecutors offered a plea deal worrying that evidence in the case would not be enough to convict him on the more serious charge.

Parizeau is not eligible for parole.