Lake County District Court news for May 24, 2017
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Judge James A. Manley sentenced the following people on May 17:
Richard B. Chaffin, 42, of Polson, was given a fiveyear sentence in the Department of Corrections with all time suspended except for 14 days in the Lake County Jail for criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute. According to a court document, Polson Police searched his residence and found a digital scale, 2 grams of heroin, 28 grams of methamphetamine, $481 in cash, other drug paraphernalia, an asp snake and two shotguns, including one sawed off. One of the conditions of his plea agreement is that Chaffin not own dangerous or vicious animals. Prosecuting attorney James Lapotka said Chaffin has three DUIs and multiple partner family member assaults on his record. Chaffin said he has a permanent disability because of seizures, a blood-clotting disorder and arthritis. Manley said defense attorney Jeff Wilson did a good job for Chaffin, who thanked the court. Manley advised Chaffin to not get a similar charge. He was ordered to complete a Cognitive Principles and Restructuring program.
David Lawrence Fisher, 27, of Pablo, was given two concurrent six-month sentences to the Lake County Jail for amended charges of misdemeanor assault and theft. On Feb. 9, Fisher was charged with hitting a man several times with a broom handle. On March 6 he took items from the tribal complex in Pablo, according to a court document. A burglary charge was dismissed in the latter case. The sentences will run consecutively to a pending case in Sanders County.
Wesley Joseph Adams, 37, of St. Ignatius, was sentenced to nine days already served in jail for violating his probation. Adams admitted that he had consumed alcohol. He was originally sentenced in 2007 on an amended charge of criminal endangerment after he forced three vehicles off the road including a police officer and was driving 93 mph, according to court records. Manley said Adams had paid his debt to society because he had served seven years in prison and completed the Connections Corrections program several times along with “boot camp” at the Treasure State Correctional Facility at least once. Noting it costs taxpayers $40,000 a year to imprison someone, Manley said that sending Adams to a treatment program again likely wouldn’t help. “He is an alcoholic, and he, by and large, is the victim of his behavior,” Manley said. Defense attorney Ben Darrow said Adams is currently receiving treatment at Winds of Change mental health center in Missoula and has a job lined up. Adams said he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.
Judge Kim Christopher sentenced the following people on May 18:
Todd Michael Lozeau, 33, of Charlo, was given a two-year deferred sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs in accord with a plea agreement after police found a digital scale with methamphetamine residue on it after a traffic stop, according to a court record.
Joseph Edward Bays (Quequesah), 44, of Elmo, was given a five-year sentence in DOC with all but 13 months suspended for his fifth DUI. Bays blew a .244 on a blood alcohol content test, a court record states.
Echo Christina Shaner, 35, of Kalispell, had a threeyear suspended sentence revoked for not reporting to probation and parole. She was sentenced to three years for theft by accountability with credit for nine days served.
