Lake County District Court news for Feb. 25, 2015
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Feb. 18:
Jason Leroy Bridges, 35, Missoula, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for April 15 and a jury trial is set to begin June 1.
According to court documents, in July 2014 a confidential informant purchased 15 pills containing oxycodone from Bridges. The drug sale was monitored and recorded by the Mission Mountain Drug Task Force, and the pills were paid for with Drug Task Force bills.
Matthew Day, 38, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for April 15 and a jury trial is set to begin June 1.
According to court documents, in November 2014 a police officer pulled Day over on a traffic stop. Day had a bag of suspected methamphetamine on the front seat.
Joshua R. Lefthand, 39, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for April 15 and a jury trial is set to begin June 1. A hearing on merits to revoke his suspended sentence was set for Feb. 25.
According to court documents, on Feb. 1 Lefthand was stopped in his vehicle by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper, and several small baggies with suspected methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe were found in the vehicle.
Mariah Antiste, 22, Big Arm, in a change of plea admitted she fraudulently obtained dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found her guilty, and set sentencing for March 25.
According to court documents, Antiste tried to pass a forged prescription at a Polson pharmacy by writing “hydrocodone” under the authentic prescription written for a spinal x-ray. After the pharmacy clerk called the doctor to advise him of the suspicious prescription, the doctor told a tribal officer that he had specifically advised Antiste that he would not prescribe any narcotic medication for her.
Randall Joe Michel, Jr., 28, Ronan, in a change of plea admitted driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The court found Michel guilty, and sentencing is set for March 25.
According to court documents, in November 2014, a police officer observed Michel driving recklessly before pulling into a Polson casino. Michel provided a breath sample of .205 blood alcohol concentration. The officer noted Michel was on felony probation, and had at least three prior DUI convictions.
Karen Wellcome, 42, Kalispell, in a change of plea admitted committing an amended offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, third offense, a misdemeanor. The court found Wellcome guilty and Wellcome was sentenced to one year in Lake County Jail, all suspended but 30 days.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Feb. 19:
Tadd Michael Wilson, 26, St. Ignatius, was committed to the director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for 10 years, all suspended, for felony theft. For resisting arrest and three counts of assault on a police officer, Wilson was committed to DPHHS for six months on each count, all suspended. All sentences will run concurrently.
According to court documents, in December 2013, a black Jeep was stolen from a car dealer in Ronan and was later found at Wilson’s residence. Wilson was arrested for felony theft and released on bond. When an arrest warrant was issued, three Lake County deputies went to Wilson’s residence to arrest him in February 2014. He became agitated and kicked each of the officers while they were attempting to handcuff and place Wilson into a patrol vehicle. In October, in a change of plea Wilson admitted committing the felony theft and three amended counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest. Mental issues were presented during his hearings.
Janice Lee Tenas, 55, Polson, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony.
An omnibus hearing is set for April 30 and a jury trial is set to begin June 8.
According to court documents, on Dec. 31, 2014, the vehicle Tenas was driving was pulled over by a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy. Tenas smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and was unsteady, yet refused to perform sobriety tests. Tenas’ driving record showed at least three prior DUI convictions.
Christina Huntsman, age and residence unavailable, in a change of plea admitting committing criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found her guilty and set sentencing for March 26.
According to court documents, Huntsman was pulled over on a traffic stop in March 2014 and she had a baggie of methamphetamine in her purse.
Kasey Pier, 24, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing assault, a misdemeanor. The court found Pier guilty and he was sentenced to six months in Lake County Jail, all suspended. According to court documents, Pier went to a residence, walked inside and locked the door, then began to punch the male victim. A resident of the house tried to restrain Pier, but Pier pushed her onto a couch and continued to assault the male victim.
If the victim demands restitution, the court ordered Pier to be responsible for those medical expenses.
Ashley A. Justice, 25, Desmett, Idaho, admitted violating conditions of probation and parole and had her deferred sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs revoked. She was sentenced to 17 days in Lake County Jail and credited for already serving the 17 days. The court discharged the remaining sentence so Justice may continue her probation for another offense in Idaho.
