Lake County District Court news for Sept. 30, 2015
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases on Sept. 23:
Boe Alan Miller, 38, Elmo, admitted committing theft, a felony, and criminal endangerment, a felony. The Court made its findings, accepted the plea and found Miller guilty. He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 10 years with five years suspended on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently. The Court recommended Miller be screened and considered for Nexus and Connections Corrections.
According to court records, Miller stole a construction trailer from Salish Kootenai College Campus on March 14, 2014.
Miller refused to stop as officers began following his gray pickup with their lights and sirens activated. Miller headed north on Light Road and an officer parked his patrol vehicle in the northbound lane to stop him, but he didn’t stop. The officer was forced to pull off in the ditch to avoid a collision. Miller continued to Back Road and headed north at speeds of up to 80 mph, turned on Grenier Lane and continued through Polson at speeds of up to 60 mph, allegedly forcing several vehicles off the road. Court records said he turned onto Tenth Avenue and jumped out of his pickup while it was still moving. Officers then chased Miller on foot and subdued him by tasing him twice.
Miller allegedly told an officer someone was paying him to steal the trailer, and he wanted the money to purchase methamphetamines.
Frank Carl Hayes, 41, Missoula, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years with all suspended but 30 days and will be given credit for time served for partner or family member assault.
According to court records, on Aug. 24, 2014, two officers were dispatched to a Polson residence to respond to a reported assault.
When the officers arrived, they spoke to the victim, who told them she had been in a verbal argument with Hayes, her boyfriend. Hayes allegedly pushed the victim’s head into the door and left the residence.
According to court records the victim said she had a pre-existing head injury and was concerned the impact from the door had aggravated the injury.
Hayes was located, arrested and allegedly admitted he had shoved the victim while walking out of the house and that her head hit the doorway. Hayes has two prior convictions for partner or family member assault.
Paul E. Mahseelah, Jr., 42, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal endangerment, a felony; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, third offense, a misdemeanor; and assault with a weapon, a felony.
An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Nov. 25; astatus conference for Dec. 30 with a jury trial commencing on Feb. 16, 2016.
On May 7, an officer responded to a 911 call regarding an allegedly intoxicated male who almost ran over some children and was fighting adults.
According to court records, a witness shouted at Mahseelah to slow down after children had to dive out of the way to avoid being hit by his truck.
Mahseelah got out of his white pickup and asked what the witness was going to do about it. He repeated the question and drove quickly towards the witness, who believed Mahseelah was trying to run over him so he jumped out of the way.
Eyewitnesses confirmed Mahseelah almost hit them and estimated his speed to be 50-75 mph.
Court records indicate an unopened 12-pack of Natural Ice beer, an unopened can of Miller Lite beer, an unopened can of Coors Light and a small empty bottle of vodka were found in Mahseelah’s pickup. Mahseelah allegedly smelled like alcohol, had glossy red eyes, difficulty standing, slow and slurred speech and appeared to be confused. The Montana State Crime Lab indicated his BAC was .247.
Mahseelah has two prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Michelle J. Nault, 28, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Oct. 21, a status conference for Nov. 4 and a jury trial for Dec. 14.
According to court documents, an officer responded to an argument and suspect burglary on July 21, 2014.
The deputy determined that Nault had allegedly sneaked into a home belonging to her mother and was kicked out by a caretaker. Nault said she hadn’t lived there for a year and a half and entered through a window.
The caretaker gave the deputy a piece of burned tinfoil containing suspected drug residue and told him it had been in the kitchen where Nault had been. Nault allegedly admitted the tinfoil was hers and stated that it contained Fentanyl, a schedule II dangerous drug.
Shawn Michael Cooper, 31, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Nov. 4, a status conference for Dec. 9 with a jury trial commencing Jan. 19, 2016.
According to court records on Aug. 8, Lake County dispatch received a call from a victim that someone was looking through her bedroom window. At the scene, eyewitnesses told an officer that Cooper was near the basketball court off Fifth Street W. and Tenth Avenue E.
The officer had an active warrant for Cooper’s arrest. After arresting Cooper, the officer found a scale in Cooper’s pocket. Residue on the scale was tested by NIC and found to be methamphetamine.
Joshua Dane Cook, 31, Polson, admitted criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court made its findings, accepted the plea and found Cook guilty. Sentencing was set for Nov. 4.
According to court records, Cook was arrested on Jan. 25 on outstanding warrants and searched. An officer located an Advil container that appeared to contain methamphetamine during the search. Crime Lab confirmation is pending.
