A Helena jury found former state Senate President Jason Ellsworth guilty Tuesday night of misdemeanor criminal official misconduct for awarding $170,000 in no-bid contracts to a company represented by a long-timfe business associate.Jury deliberations took nearly four hours and left Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican, potentially facing a six-month jail sentence for mishandling two contracts awarded to Agile Analytics in the final days of December 2024. Ellsworth had contracted with the Ravalli County firm to observe and report on state agencies as the government implemented laws passed by the 2025 Legislature to limit the power of Montana courts. Ellsworth exited the courthouse shortly after the verdict was read. Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott set Ellsworth’s sentencing for Sept. 10. Prosecutors told jurors that Ellsworth circumvented the normal approval process for state contracts by signing the incomplete agreements first, then submitting the flawed documents for state officials to legitimize. Ellsworth knew better, Assistant Montana Attorney General Stephanie Robles told jurors. At the time, he was chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee, which watchdogs government affairs.