Lake County District Court news for Nov. 25, 2015
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Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Nov. 19:
Jerry Edward Dickson, 31, Polson, admitted violating conditions of parole and probation by consuming alcohol and had his suspended sentence for felony criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs revoked. He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years and is credited for 33 days already served.
According to court documents, in 2012 he was convicted after the Northwest Drug Task Force discovered he was growing more than 50 marijuana plants in his garage.
Devida Cecelia Medina, 29, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Jan. 28, 2016; status conference March 17, 2016; jury trial starting April 11, 2016.
Her representation requested she be released on her own recognizance with GPS monitoring, but because the prosecution stated she has “other issues of not cooperating with law enforcement,” the court denied the request.
According to court documents, in October 2014 a van swerved and nearly hit a Montana Highway Patrol trooper’s vehicle that was parked on the side of Highway 93. The trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over but the driver fled, driving up to 100 mph before being unable to negotiate a turn. The van ended up in a field. Medina, who appeared intoxicated, exited the passenger side and began yelling profanities at the trooper and making gang signs as she approached him. The trooper tased her and she was arrested for obstructing a peace officer. At Lake County Jail a detention officer found a used syringe containing methamphetamine in her purse.
David William Parnell, 34, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus and status hearing are set for Dec. 3 with a jury trial set to start Jan. 11, 2016. Requests for OR release and bond modification were denied.
According to court documents, on July 26 Parnell was fighting with someone in a Pablo trailer park about his use of illegal drugs. The victim, who had visible minor injuries, gave the Lake County Sheriff’s deputy two broken meth pipes that contained burned meth residue. Parnell allegedly admitted the pipes belonged to him and he had previously smoked meth out of them, but he had forgotton to throw them away.
Jesse Shawn Uhde, 37, Lakeside, pleaded not guilty to assault on a minor, a felony, and partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing is set for Jan. 28, 2016; status conference March 17, 2016; jury trial starting April 11, 2016.
According to court documents, on Aug. 18 Uhde got mad at his girlfriend for accusing him of bringing other girls to the house. He allegedly threw the girlfriend out the door and off the stairs, injuring her hand. As she was walking down the road with four children, he drove to them and demanded his 13-year-old daughter come with him. When the daughter refused, he allegedly dragged her to the car by her hair and took her home, where she left through a bedroom window and called 911.
Mary Frances Rudd, 35, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court set the following dates for 2016: omnibus hearing, Jan. 14,; status conference Feb. 11; jury trial start date, March 7.
According to court documents, in November 2014 a probation search, involving a different individual on probation, was conducted in a Polson residence and a pouch containing two baggies of meth was found on a dresser in Rudd’s bedroom.
Isaiah Elgie Thomas, 28, Polson, pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, all felonies. A trial is set to begin April 11, 2016 with an omnibus hearing on Jan. 28, 2016.
According to court documents, on July 1 Thomas was a passenger in a vehicle that was searched with a warrant, and a drug detection dog alerted on Thomas’ backpack. After getting a warrant to search the backpack, a trooper discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside. Then on Aug. 10 Thomas was in a vehicle parked at a storage unit that contained items stolen from a burglary. In Thomas’ pocket were 13 hydrocodone pills in a prescription bottle under the name of the deceased owner of the burglarized property. Thomas now had two warrants for his arrest, and on Oct. 23, Lake County dispatch was advised that Thomas was at an address in Ronan. Thomas was arrested, and during booking an oxycodone pill was found in his belongings.
Ronald Melvin Parnell, 32, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Jan. 28, 2016; a status conference March 17, 2016, and a jury trial is set to start April 11, 2016.
According to court documents, on Oct. 22 a probation search was conducted on Parnell’s residence and he was allegedly caught actively smoking meth from a meth pipe. Two large chunks of meth, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale and drug packaging materials were found in the residence.
William Herbert Noel, 53, Polson, in a change of plea entered a no contest plea for charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. He was found guilty. Sentencing is set for Dec. 24.
According to court documents, in April 2014 Noel was arrested on an outstanding warrant and when he was searched a knife case was found with a syringe inside. The syringe contained meth.
Bryan Yazzie, 25, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal child endangerment, a felony. He was found guilty. Sentencing is set for Jan. 7, 2016, to allow time for Yazzie to be with his children over the holidays, according to the court. As part of the plea agreement Yazzie must successfully complete a parenting course.
According to court documents, on March 6 Yazzie was driving under the influence of drugs on Highway 93 in Polson while his minor child was in the car.
Daniel Savard, 57, Houston, Texas, had his sentence for felony criminal child endangerment deferred for three years, except for 10 days in Lake County Jail, to be served within six months. The court approved changes to two conditions: that he serve the jail time in Texas, but will have to pay for it himself; and that he complete a state certified program in Texas that is similar to the Montana ACT program.
According to court documents, in April 2014 Savard was driving a vehicle in Polson while his blood alcohol concentration was .119. In the car were a female passenger and her infant.
At sentencing the court also imposed a restriction that Savard cannot drive with this child again, suggesting that Savard may not be aware of the significance of his actions.
“When you involve children … that’s even more significant to me … and you compromised the motoring public,” Judge Christopher told Savard. “Don’t combine alcohol with a vehicle. That makes you a dangerous weapon — someone is going to get hurt.”
Kelly Gordon Dupuis, 26, Pablo, had his sentence for felony burglary deferred for six years, leaving the court the option of sentencing up to 20 years in Montana State Prison if Dupuis violates terms of probation. Dupuis was credited for 97 days already served, and ordered to pay $5,122.70 in restitution to the victim.
According to court documents, on Jan. 18 Dupuis broke into a Ronan store and stole a bank deposit and small safe.
Because Dupuis is a former police officer, Judge Christopher had some stern words during his sentencing.
“You have walked on the other side ...,” Judge Christopher said. “With the privilege of wearing the badge, you also have the responsibility of standing tall when you step on it.”
