Bond reduced in Lozeau homicide case
Megan Strickland
Harry Lozeau
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POLSON – Judge James A. Manley lowered bail Nov. 5 for a Ronan man set to stand trial in February on murder charges for allegedly shooting and killing his brother.
Bond was reduced from $1 million to $300,000 for Harry Lozeau, 53, who led authorities on a two-day long man hunt through rugged terrain in the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness after two witnesses told police that they saw him shoot and kill his brother Terry Lozeau, 51, on June 14 at a residence near Mollman Pass Trail.
“The amount of the bond currently is denying him his right to post bond,” Manley said after defense attorney Randi Hood gave an account of how Lozeau couldn’t feasibly post $1 million bond.
It is unlikely Lozeau could scrape together enough money to fund a SCRAM anklet, much less the $300,000, Hood said. Some supportive family members feel $300,000 is a more attainable target if they want to raise funds for Lozeau’s release, Hood said.
Hood did not feel Lozeau, who remained silent during the bail-setting hearing, was a danger to the community or was at risk of being injured if he were released in the public.
“It is true that he has confessed to shooting his brother,” Hood said. “(But) he doesn’t have the wherewithal to flee if he wanted to.”
Lake County Deputy Attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson disagreed.
“I believe bail needs to be significant,” Cole-Hodgkinson said.
High bail would protect the community and two witnesses, Cole-Hodgkinson argued. She reminded the judge that Lozeau allegedly fled the scene of the crime.
“We were only able to find him through GPS monitoring,” Cole-Hodgkinson said.
If Lozeau is able to post bond, he will have to abstain from consuming alcohol or drugs, not live in a home with firearms, stay in touch with his attorney, and have no contact with witnesses of the crime.
Manley stressed the importance of not consuming alcohol.
“It appears drinking is a big part of this,” Manley said.
Lozeau has a decades-long history of alcohol-fueled crimes. According to court records, Lozeau has been convicted of six alcohol-related violations, including a negligent homicide conviction in 1983 that resulted from a drinking and driving wreck that took the life of a woman and her unborn child; a 1983 assault and battery conviction; a 1992 burglary conviction, and numerous tickets for driving while license was suspended or revoked and driving without insurance.
Fleeing the scene of the crime has also been a problem with Lozeau in the past. In September 1994 three people were injured after Lozeau’s vehicle swerved into oncoming traffic on Highway 93 near Ravalli. Lozeau attempted to flee the scene, but Arlee firefighters tailed him until law enforcement arrived. Five misdemeanor counts resulted: negligent vehicular assault; habitual traffic offender driving a motor vehicle; operating without liability insurance, seventh offense; failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries; and failing to drive on the right side of the roadway. He was found guilty and sentenced to Lake County Jail for a total of three years and 10 days with none suspended. Harry was also fined a total of $7,060, with all suspended.
Authorities who have worked with Lozeau in past cases say he has rarely been apologetic for his crimes and that he is a poor candidate for rehabilitation.
“The Court feels (Harry Lozeau) is a poor prospect for rehabilitation and presents a substantial danger to the public,” Justice of the Peace Chuck Whitson wrote in a Nov. 29, 1994 hearing.
In a report from then-State Probation and Parole Officer Dave Weaver, dated March 21, 1995, Weaver wrote: “The defendant expressed minimal remorse for his offense and little empathy for his victims. He did not accept full responsibility for this offense, and expressed concern that the victim may in some way be responsible to some degree.”
Alcohol was also suspected to be a factor in the shooting death of Lozeau’s brother.
According to court documents, witnesses told police that Lozeau had been drinking beer on June 14 before he argued with his brother over truck repairs. One of the witnesses took a gun away from Lozeau after he and the brother got into a physical altercation. Lozeau allegedly retrieved the gun and shot his brother while the man tried to repair the truck. He fled in a car and later on foot, until he was caught by authorities.
