Lake County District Court news for May 20, 2015
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, May 6:
Jonathan Wayne Snyder, 35, Polson, pleaded not guilty to felony criminal endangerment. An omnibus hearing is set for July 15; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on March 8 a Montana Highway Patrol trooper clocked a vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 93 at 86 mph. When the trooper turned around to stop the vehicle, the trooper noticed Snyder, the driver, had accelerated and was driving through heavy traffic in Pablo at a high rate of speed, causing other drivers to swerve to avoid a collision. Snyder turned off the highway before pulling into the Pablo Community Bank parking lot, where he attempted to flee on foot, crossing east across Highway 93 onto Northwood Road with the trooper running after him. When Snyder saw the trooper gaining on him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black object. The trooper, believing the object could be a gun, drew his weapon and ordered Snyder to show his hands. Snyder did, and showed the trooper a cell phone. Snyder said he had been drinking and found out his girlfriend had been cheating on him and was going to confront her. An open container of liquor was in Snyder’s vehicle.
Joseph Z. Schiel, 32, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to two counts criminal possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies; and two counts of assault on a peace or judicial officer, both felonies.
An omnibus hearing is set for July 15; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on April 1 a tribal officer responded to a report of domestic violence. The suspect, Schiel, had fled the area. The officer found Schiel’s car on Fish Hatchery Road, no one was in the vehicle. Schiel was found hiding in the bushes, and a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy who had arrived ordered Schiel to come out. Although he initially refused, he did come out and was handcuffed and placed in a patrol vehicle. A pill container with several pills was found where Schiel was hiding. When the deputy spoke to Schiel, Schiel became angry and kicked the deputy in the face, then wrapped his legs around the deputy’s neck to choke him.
The tribal officer was able to drag Schiel from the car and subdue him.
Aaron M. Ausmus, 37, Polson, pleaded not guilty to failing to register as a sex offender, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 15; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 1.
According to court document, a woman called Lake County dispatch to report that Ausmus had moved from Oregon to Polson to avoid dealing with being registered as a sex offender. A background check on Ausmus showed that he has been registered in Oregon since January 1998 when he was convicted of rape, sexual abuse and sodomy, all in Lane County, Oregon. Ausmus has been living in Polson and has failed to comply with his registration requirements.
Aaron C. Dodge, 45, Polson, pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with a weapon, all felonies, and partner or family member assault, third or subsequent offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 15; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on April 18 Dodge was drinking and watching TV when he got into an argument with his wife and daughter about an actress. As the argument escalated, Dodge allegedly struck his wife with his hand. When the argument continued, Dodge used his “usual tool of persuasion,” a sawed-off shotgun with a round in the chamber. “Surprisingly, this failed to bring the argument to an end. Feeling that there was not another way to end the argument,” court documents state, Dodge pointed the shotgun at the floor and pulled the trigger. The ricocheting buckshot struck his wife, daughter and son. Dodge admitted he may have pointed the gun at his wife as he lowered it to the floor. The son said Dodge pointed the gun at him and said, “I’ll blow your … head off too, boy, run!” The wounded family members were able to grab the car keys and leave. Dodge also left the scene but was arrested when he returned home. Dodge’s arrest history showed two or more prior domestic assault convictions.
Michael Joe Matt, 42, St. Ignatius, in a change of plea admitted committing one offense of assault with a weapon, a felony. Two other charges were dismissed. The court found Matt guilty and set sentencing for June 17.
According to court documents, on March 14 Flathead Tribal Police responded to a report that a man was drunk and hitting a woman, and the reporting party could hear the man loading his gun. According to witnesses, Matt allegedly punched his wife twice in the head and pointed a loaded gun at her and at another person in the home.
William Rossbach, 38, Polson, denied allegations that he violated probation conditions, but the state proved otherwise and had his suspended sentence for felony accountability to robbery revoked. He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for four years. The offense dates back to 2001.
Samuel Friscia, 25, Polson, had his suspended sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute revoked. He was sentenced to Montana State Prison for five years.
Tyler Frederick Erickson, 22, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found Erickson guilty, and revoked his deferred sentence on another charge. Sentencing on both is set for May 20.
According to court documents, on March 23 Erickson’s parole officer searched Erickson’s room and found numerous items of drug paraphernalia with methamphetamine residue.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, May 7:
Bryan Yazzie, 25, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal child endangerment, a felony, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 20; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 21.
According to court documents, at 5:53 p.m. March 6, a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of a possible drunk driver on Highway 93 in Polson. The deputy stopped Yazzie’s vehicle, and saw a female adult passenger in the front seat and child about one year old in the back seat. Yazzie said he had injected methamphetamine and snorted Lortab about an hour prior to driving. Yazzie said he had smoked marijuana immediately prior to being stopped by the deputy, because they were on their way to a pizza restaurant.
Nicholas Patrick Kapcha, 32, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 20; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 21.
According to court documents, charges on March 29 an MHP trooper saw a vehicle pulling a trailer that was dragging on the ground. The trooper followed the trailer and noticed the brake light was not working, so he made a traffic stop. The driver, Kapcha, was known to be involved with drug use, and consented to a search of his vehicle. A variety of items consistent with drug distribution were found in Kapcha’s vehicle, including drug paraphernalia, pills, a digital scale and baggies of methamphetamine and marijuana.
Samantha Deshazer, 32, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 20; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 21.
According to court documents, on March 27 a Lake County parole officer and a deputy searched the home of a man who was on parole. Deshazer spoke to the officers outside the home, and her mannerisms indicated that she was under the influence of methamphetamine. She let the officers search her purse, and they found baggies with methamphetamine residue and one that contained .5 grams of meth.
Erin E. Rohde, 39, Kalispell, pleaded not guilty to criminal endangerment, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 20; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 21.
According to court documents, on the morning of March 20 a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a report of a non-responsive driver slumped over the wheel of a running car, in gear, in the middle of Commerce Lane in Polson. A man had tried to knock on the window to rouse her but she did not respond. The officer arrived and found a half-empty vodka bottle on the front passenger floorboard. After the deputy secured the vehicle, Rohde was taken to a local hospital by ambulance, and was too intoxicated to answer the deputy’s questions when he tried to interview her. The deputy cited Rohde for criminal endangerment because she posed a threat to the public in her condition.
