Lake County District Court news for July 22, 2015
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, July 15:
Trent Johnathan Lell, 33, Polson was sentenced to Montana State Prison for 15 years for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. Additionally, Lell had three prior suspended sentences revoked, and was sentenced to MSP for seven years, all suspended; and to the Department of Corrections for five years and four years, all suspended. All four sentences are to run consecutively.
According to court documents, on Jan. 14 a Montana Highway Patrol trooper responded to the scene of a one-vehicle crash on Round Butte Road in Ronan. It appeared Lell had been driving eastbound, left the road and went down an embankment on the right side, crashed through a barbed-wire fence and continued another 15-20 feet before stopping; he then backed into the fence again.
Lell was so unresponsive in the driver’s seat that he was unable to talk, but appeared uninjured. Lell’s driving record showed he was driving on a suspended license and had six prior DUI convictions.
Delicia Faye Blackweasel, 21, Pablo, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years for felony criminal endangerment and felony theft.
According to court documents, charges stem from a November 2014 incident where Blackweasel stole a 2003 Chevy Impala and led a Lake County deputy on a high-speed chase down North Foothills Road in Ronan, which continued onto Terrace Lake Road and Round Butte Road before she was apprehended with the use of a taser in the Ronan Middle School parking lot.
Caitlin Elaine Hewankorn, 23, Polson, had her sentence for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence deferred for three years and was ordered to testify in all cases involved in the burglary.
According to court documents, on Nov. 14, 2014, someone called 911 to report a burglary in progress in Pablo. The deputy was told three males had forced entry into a residence and were hauling items next door repeatedly. The caller also reported one of the items was a newly-purchased 32-inch Vizio television. When a deputy arrived at one of the burglar’s homes, he saw Hewankorn holding a 32-inch Vizio TV by the front door. She tried to run but tripped and fell, and was subsequently arrested.
Anthony Louis Alexander, 35, Polson, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon, a felony. The court will set an omnibus hearing and jury trial dates at a later date.
According to court documents, on May 30 a woman was awoken by fighting between her female cousin and Alexander. When the woman got between the two people, Alexander allegedly stabbed the woman in the neck with a knife.
Tyler Frederick Erickson, 21, and Randall Joe Michel, 28, both residents in Lake County Jail, pleaded not guilty to felony aggravated assault or felony accountability for conduct of another. A jury trial is set to start Dec. 14.
According to court documents, a sheriff’s deputy learned on June 5 that there had been a fight between inmates. The deputy learned from the detention officer that the victim was “ganged up on by seven cellmates” and that the victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The victim suffered a medial right orbital fracture, medical professionals determined.
Prior to being transported, the victim gave a statement saying that he started exchanging words with Frank Hayes, and the two went into an area of the cell that is not covered by surveillance cameras in order to “handle what needed to be handled” when he was jumped by Hayes, Michel, Erickson, Michael Garza, Samuel Spottedeagle, and Peter Aimsback.
Damian Armando Talamantes, 38, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to stalking, second offense, a felony, and violation of a protective order.
A jury trial is set for Sept. 14.
According to court documents, in September 2014, Talamantes was charged with partner or family member assault, to which he pled guilty in November 2014. The victim has an order of protection against Talamantes, but Talamantes has allegedly called her, Facebooked her and driven within 1,500 yards of her residence.
Michael Anthony Moran, 38, Arlee, in a change of plea admitted committing two counts of felony criminal endangerment. The court found him guilty. Sentencing is set for Aug. 19.
According to court documents, on April 18 Moran allegedly tried to burn his parents’ home down by spreading cooking oil and PAM spray throughout the house and igniting it. The parents were home and called 911, and barricaded themselves into a bedroom while Moran was highly intoxicated and breaking things.
Taija Collier, 27, Polson, was sentenced to four years in DOC after admitting she violated conditions of probation and parole.
Douglas Jerome Pierre, 40, Ronan, in a change of plea admitted committing criminal endangerment. The court found Pierre guilty and sentenced him to DOC for five years.
According to court documents, a Ronan police officer was sent to arrest Pierre on an outstanding warrant. When the officer arrived at Pierre’s residence, Pierre drove off and then initially refused to pull over when the officer attempted to stop him. Pierre eventually stopped, and as the officer exited his vehicle, Pierre sped off, allegedly endangering the life of a pedestrian and cyclist. He was finally apprehended after the officer called in reinforcements.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, July 16:
Tessie Annette Curley, 55, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 20 and a jury trial is set to begin Nov. 9.
According to court documents, an officer from the Mission Mountain Drug Task Force searched Curley’s home on a warrant, and found three hydrocodone pills on her person. In a purse that she denied was hers the officer found and a digital scale with white powdery residue, a mechanical scale, a gold colored metal case with powdery residue on it, a baggie of marijuana and a Montana Food Stamp card with Curley’s name on it.
Jared Anthony Ondaro, 43, Bigfork, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Sept. 9 and jury trial is set to start Dec. 7.
According to court documents, on June 29 a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy was called to Ferndale where it was reported to dispatch that Ondaro was intoxicated and out of control, was pounding on the door and had punched a hole in the wall. A woman at the residence said Ondaro got mad at her and threatened to kill her, which made her afraid so she locked herself in the bedroom with the dogs.
Abdel Scott Russell, 34, Ronan, pleaded guilty to criminal child endangerment and criminal endangerment, both felonies. Sentencing is set for Aug. 27.
According to court documents, at about 10 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2014, a sheriff’s deputy witnessed Russell driving south in the northbound lanes of Highway 93 south of Polson, where the highway is divided by a wall. The deputy had to take immediate evasive action to avoid head on collision with Russell’s vehicle. The deputy then attempted to stop Russell’s vehicle before other drivers became at risk. Russell continued driving to the top of Polson Hill, slowing to about 10 mph before stopping near Caffery Road. When the deputy approached the car, there was a 4-year-old female jumping up and down on Russell’s passenger seat, unrestrained. There was also an open alcoholic beverage can in the cup holder and several other cans on the floor of the vehicle. During DUI processing, Russell stated that he had four or five big cans of “Mike” (hard lemonade) that evening.
He refused to give a breath sample so a blood sample was taken at a local hospital and sent to the state crime lab for analysis.
Courtney Carper, 23, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. She was found guilty, and sentencing is set for Aug. 27.
According to court documents, on Feb. 20 Carper’s vehicle was stopped and then searched after she consented. The trooper found three and a half oxycodone pills in a pill crusher. She told the trooper they were hers. After she was arrested, five more oxycodone pills were found on her person.
Kelly Gordon Dupuis, 26, Pablo, in a change of plea admitted committing felony burglary. The court found him guilty and sentencing is set for Aug. 27.
According to court documents, on Jan. 18 Dino Mart called to report a safe was stolen from their Ronan business during the night. Video footage showed Dupuis and another suspect, both wearing face covering, had broken in the back door. They stole a bank deposit and a small safe.
