Jon Krakauer's new book 'Missoula : Rape and the Justice System in a College Town' was released on Tuesday, and once again, Missoula is in the spotlight about reported sexual assaults. 

 

One of the individuals singled out in Krakauer's book is current Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst, along with the man she succeeded in that office, Fred Van Valkenburg. 

Pabst, Van Valkenburg's Chief Deputy County Attorney for 16 years, called the KGVO Talk Back show on Tuesday to inform the public that she would be making a statement in response to the Krakauer book on Wednesday.

"I wanted to let everyone know that tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon, I will be giving a public address," Pabst said. "We're really looking forward to finally having the opportunity to one author's criticism, but more importantly, to highlight all the important work  that we've been doing and will continue to do in the area of sexual assault prosecutions."

Pabst said the wait for the book to actually be published so that she could speak to what is actually written has been long and difficult.

"I really look forward to speaking tomorrow at noon in District Courtroom Number Three on the third floor of the Missoula County Courthouse," she said. "We hope that everyone has an opportunity either to listen or to be there in person to show their support."

Pabst made it clear that this was not going to be a press conference where questions would be taken from the audience, but rather an opportunity to make a public statement regarding the Krakauer book.

In 2012, the Justice department Civil Rights Division began an investigation into how sexual assaults were being handled by the Missoula Police Department, the University of Montana Police Department and the Missoula County Attorney's Office.

The City of Missoula and the university are in the process of completing a three year process of complying with the agreements set forth by the Justice Department. The county attorney's office under Van Valkenburg refused to comply, and eventually came to an agreement with intervention from the state attorney general.

Pabst left the county attorney's office and entered private practice, when she helped to represent University of Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson during his rape trial in 2013. Johnson was found not guilty.

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