Lake County District Court news for June 24, 2010
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases June 16, 2010:
Nicole Ann Hadley, 29, Pablo, admitted to committing felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor driving while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked - sixth offense. She was found guilty and sentencing is scheduled for July 21 at 9 a.m.
According to court records the charges stem from an Oct. 17, 2009 incident when a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper was assisting two females attempting to tow a car with a pickup on U.S. Hwy. 93, near Chaffy Road.
The tow strap broke and left the car in the middle of the north and south bound lanes of the highway. The strap was repaired and the two females left with both vehicles.
Approximately an hour later, the trooper observed the same pickup speeding, going 34 mph in a 25 mph zone on U.S. Hwy. 212 near mile marker 13. The trooper noticed that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and her eyes were bloodshot and watery.
The driver, identified as Hadley, admitted to speeding and told the trooper that the vehicle was not hers and that her driver’s license was suspended because she had three previous DUI convictions. The trooper also noticed an overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from Hadley. She admitted to drinking vodka the previous evening and had stopped at 4:30 a.m. Her breath sample provided a BAC of .156%.
During booking at the jail, she scored six out of six possible indications of impairment on the HGN test and one out of four on the one-legged stand. Another breath sample was provided that resulted in a BAC of .121%. Hadley’s driving history indicated that she did have three previous DUI convictions and five convictions of driving with a suspended or revoked license within the past five years.
William Durgeloh, 50, Charlo, admitted to committing felony threats and other improper influence in official and political matters. He was found guilty and sentencing is scheduled for July 21 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, the charges stem from a May 7 incident after a trial let out that found Durgeloh’s relative, Wesly Benn, guilty. Durgeloh allegedly became agitated upon hearing the verdict and yelled numerous threats against a county attorney.
He made his way to the county attorney’s office and continued to make threats, prompting a deputy county attorney to call emergency dispatchers. Once Durgeloh was apprehended by a responding officer, court documents indicate he repeatedly stated that, “This is just the beginning ... it ain’t over yet.”
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases June 17, 2010:
Allen Michael McDonald, 48, Ronan, was sentenced to 10 years at the Department of Corrections with five suspended for felony DUI.
According to court records, the charges stem from an incident on March 28 when Lake County Dispatch received a report of a possible drunk driver on Round Butte Road near Ronan. The reporting party observed a pickup weaving back and forth between the fog line and centerline, almost going into the ditch several times.
A Tribal Police Officer observed the pickup turning off Hughes onto Songer Road.
The officer pulled up behind the vehicle and McDonald, the driver, motioned for him to go around. The officer then approached McDonald and while speaking with him, he noted that his speech was thick-tongued and slurred, and there was a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.
McDonald declined any field sobriety tests, because of his arthritis he said, but agreed to give a breath test. McDonald’s driving history revealed that he had more than three prior DUI convictions, so the officer requested that a Highway Patrol Trooper take over the investigation.
When the trooper arrived, he noted McDonald had slurred speech and unsteady movements. The HGN test resulted in six out of six clues of impairment. McDonald again refused any field sobriety testing.
During the 20-minute deprivation period, McDonald became agitated and refused the breath test. He was then taken to the Lake County Jail for further processing. During transport, McDonald accused the trooper of being racist and threatened his family.
Ghlee Daniel Blickenstaff, 22, Polson, admitted to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanors partner or family member assault and cruelty to animals. He was found guilty and sentencing was set for July 29 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, the charges stem from a Feb. 10 incident when a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy and another Deputy were called to a home about a domestic disturbance. In an interview with a woman, she stated to the deputy that Blickenstaff became angry and broke a picture. Taking a piece of the broken glass, he cut her arm and then repeatedly cut himself. He then threatened to kill their dog while strangling it. The deputy then interviewed Blickenstaff and he admitted to cutting himself, pushing the woman and cutting her with the glass.
Justin Mark Seely, 42, Hot Springs, admitted to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. He was found guilty and sentencing was set for July 29 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, the charges stem from a May 13 incident when Seely allegedly shot a rifle at the door of his sister’s trailer during an argument.
When Seely was detained for an investigation, officers seized a .22 caliber rifle and a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana.
