Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

Jury finds Adams not guilty of assault

Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local. You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.



Subscribe now to stay in the know!

Already a subscriber? Login now

POLSON — It took a Lake County Jury about two hours to reach a verdict of not guilty in the case of a Lake Mary Ronan man charged with felony assault with a weapon. The trial began at District Court in Polson Monday Dec. 6 and wrapped up Tuesday afternoon.

Brendan Edward Adams, 58, was charged with assault with a weapon for an incident July 2, 2020.

According to court records, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Geiger Lane near Lake Mary Ronan on a report that a neighbor was “menacing people with a gun.” At the scene a man reported that Adams had pointed a gun at his wife and threatened to shoot her if she touched his fence post again. The man said he retrieved his own gun to protect his wife. 

Judge Manley told Adams during a hearing Aug. 18, that although he has never been convicted of a felony before and should be afforded the opportunity of a deferred sentence, this should stay on his record due to a similar incident that was handled in federal court before U. S. District Judge Dana Christensen. In that matter, records show Adams had a civil judgment against him for claims of battery, trespass, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment. In the findings of facts, the jury found that Adams wrongfully imprisoned another person by intentionally and aggressively blocking the person’s ability to cross an easement the person had permission to use. The judgment against Adams, dated May 10, 2021, totaled $850,000.

Judge Manley told Adams he wanted to sentence to him to three years with the Montana Department of Corrections with all but 30 days suspended. Judge Manley told Adams he could serve the 30 days on home arrest. Adams had initially pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon in a plea agreement that called for sentencing being deferred for three years and no jail time. Judge Manley rejected the agreement due to the federal case and allowed Adams to withdraw his guilty plea and take the case to trial.

Lake County Attorney Steve Eschenbacher prosecuted the case. Adams was represented by attorney John E. Smith of Missoula.

In a separate matter, Adams is facing a trial Feb. 14 on two counts of unauthorized work. According to court records, Adams is alleged to have knowingly and without permit, permanently altered the lake shore protection zone by maintaining a 200-foot floating dock and extending his lawn into Lake Mary Ronan by depositing rock fill below the annual mean high-water mark. This was allegedly recorded on video by an area resident. 

Sponsored by: