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Lake County District Court news for Feb. 3, 2016

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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Jan. 26:

Melissa Assiniboine, 31, St. Ignatius, had her sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, deferred for two years. She was credited for two days served. Because this was her first felony, the sentence gives her the opportunity for rehabilitation and potential for punishment if she doesn’t follow the conditions, according to Judge Manley. If she does, the case could likely be dismissed after two years, he said.

According to court documents, in July 2014 Assiniboine was arrested and taken to Tribal Jail, where a baggie with methamphetamine residue was found in her property.

Stacie R. Rongyocsik-Lester, 39, Missoula, had her felony criminal endangerment sentence deferred for two years. For a second count of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, first offense, a 24-hour mandatory sentence in Lake County Jail was suspended. 

“I respect that you worked hard the last year … to be drug and alcohol free,” Judge Manley said.

Prior to sentencing, Rongyocsik-Lester offered apologies “for my behavior,” she said, and noted her appreciation for her lawyer.

Manley agreed the way her lawyer has handled the situation “is going to result in a much better outcome than it could have been.”

According to court documents, in March 2014 Rongyocsik-Lester was driving erratically along Highway 93 north of Ronan when she drove off the highway. Her vehicle flipped end-over-end and came to rest with the rear wheels on the wall of the game trail under the highway. She was thrown from the car and was unconscious when a Montana Highway Patrol trooper arrived. A 2-year-old was found buckled in a car seat in the front passenger seat. It appeared the seat had broken free from its back seat restraint. The child did not appear injured. A blood test revealed the presence of methamphetamine, amphetamine and the prescription drug Ambien. 

Mitchell Joe Bear Azure, 35, Ravalli, was sentenced to 13 months in the DOC with an additional three years DOC, all suspended, to run consecutive to 13-month commitment, for DUI, fourth or subsequent offense. Azure apologized to the court.

According to court documents, on April 29, 2015, Azure was driving at least 81 mph through a 35 mph speed-limit area of Arlee and was pulled over by a tribal police officer. Azure performed poorly on field sobriety tests and admitted he had a couple of drinks. In December 2015 Azure pled guilty to DUI per a plea agreement.

Katreena Rae Morigeau, 28, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to begin June 20.

According to court documents, on March 18, 2015, a Polson Police officer responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Morigeau, who had a warrant for her arrest, was in the vehicle that was searched after the owner gave permission. Three small baggies with meth residue were found in a purse in the trunk. Morigeau told the officer she had been using meth for about year.

James Edward Green, Jr., 58, Kent, Washington, pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies. An omnibus hearing is set for March 30 and a jury trial is set to start May 5.

According to court documents, on Sept. 2, 2015, Green was stopped for speeding, and one and a half grams of methamphetamine and three Percocet pills were discovered in Green’s pocket.

Jasmin Shourds, 37, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to begin June 20.

According to court documents, on June 4, 2015, a confidential informant working with tribal police purchased $20 of meth from Shourds at her residence.

Chase Aaron Merchant, 23, Polson, pleaded not guilty to felony arson. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to begin June 20.

According to court documents, on Jan. 10 Merchant allegedly tried to set fire to a relative’s home in Moiese where he had been living before he moved down the road after being confronted about his use of foul language in front of the residents’ grandchild. 

A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to the home that was burned and found black burn marks on the wall by the front door, and a broom handle and extension cord that had been burned. The soil under the fire smelled of gasoline. The Deputy followed footprints in the snow from the burned residence to the residence where Merchant was currently staying. Next to the front door was a gas can. When Merchant arrived at the residence a bit later, he was wearing boots that left a similar print as the one followed by the deputy. Although Merchant initially denied involvement in the fire, he later admitted to Lake County detectives that he had been mad at the residents, that he had set fire to the door knowing a man, woman and child were inside, and that he put their lives in danger.

Skylee Shortman, 37, Polson, pleaded not guilty to threats and improper influence in official and political matters, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to begin June 20.

According to court documents, on Dec. 22, 2015, Shortman rolled his vehicle into a ditch near Dubay Road and Minesinger Road and asked the probation officer, who called the accident into dispatch, to help him pull his vehicle out. She refused and he began yelling at the officer. Two Polson volunteer firefighters arrived in a fire truck. Shortman asked them to pull his vehicle out and not report the matter to law enforcement, but they refused and called for law enforcement assistance. Shortman then allegedly tried to hit one of the firefighters, but slipped and grabbed the firefighter’s arm. Shortman was held on the ground until law enforcement arrived.

Daniel Thomas Beavers, 24, Ronan, in a change of plea admitted committing the amended offense of criminal endangerment, a felony. The court found Beavers guilty. Sentencing is set for March 9.

According to court documents, in November 2014 Beavers was driving on Highway 93 while intoxicated. He had three prior DUI convictions.

Todd Ryan Jordan, 32, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing the amended offense of criminal endangerment, a felony. The court found Jordan guilty. Sentencing is set for March 9.

According to court documents, Jordan was driving intoxicated along Highway 93 through Polson with a .172 blood alcohol concentration. He has three or more prior DUI convictions.

Brandon Jeppesen, 31, Polson, in a change of plea admitted in court to three counts: Count one, criminal possession of dangerous drugs when, on October 2015, Jeppesen possessed a small quantity of methamphetamine. Count two, an amended misdemeanor theft, on June 21, 2015, took property valued at less than $1,500 without permission. Restitution has not been determined. Lastly, Jeppesen admitted violating conditions of his deferred sentence when he entered a guilty plea in Flathead County.

“Your honor, I realize I have made some mistakes,” Jeppesen said during sentencing. “I realize I need treatment. After sentencing, I plan to apply for the boot camp program … and change my life around.”

The court found Jeppesen guilty on all three counts and set sentencing for March 9.

Frank Carl Hayes, age/residence unavailable, was sentenced to DOC for five years with two suspended for partner/family member assault causing bodily injury, third or subsequent offense, a felony; and five years with two suspended for aggravated assault, a felony. The two sentences will run consecutively. Restitution was set at $2,500.

According to court documents, in August 2014 Hayes pushed his girlfriend’s head into a doorway. She had an existing head injury prior to Hayes’ actions. Then in June 2015 Hayes, while in Lake County Jail, assaulted an inmate, causing the inmate to suffer a broken bone around his eye.

 

Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Jan. 28:

Christine Diane Wingender, 58, Ronan, was sentenced to the DOC for 10 years with five suspended for criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, on March 18, 2015, officers executed a search warrant on Wingender’s home and found six baggies of meth, seven hydrocodone pills, tourniquets, syringes, a pill crusher, spoons and scales.

Davida Cecelia Medina, 29, St. Ignatius had her sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs deferred for two years.

According to court documents, in October 2014 Medina had a syringe containing meth in her pocket when she was arrested for leading an MHP officer on a high-speed chase.

Ricardo Aceves Espinosa, 50, St. Ignatius, was sentenced to DOC for 13 months to be placed in a residential alcohol treatment program, plus two years all suspended. On a second count, he was sentenced to DOC for eight years, all suspended.

“You’ve been given a significant opportunity here … considering the criminal record you have. Take advantage of that,” Judge Christopher said, explaining that the sentence provides a significant tail for probation to monitor Espinosa provide an opportunity for rehabilitation.

According to court documents, Espinosa has at least five prior DUI convictions.

Shelly Rose Felsman, 28, Charlo, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon. An omnibus hearing is set for March 17, a status conference for April 21, and a jury trial is set to start May 23. The court granted a state-requested bond reduction. 

“Alcohol, a weapon and blood — not a good deal for OR release. I want your client to be very careful in regard to who she is hanging around with,” Judge Christopher warned before granting the OR release. 

According to court documents, on Jan. 7 Felsman allegedly was drunk and “throwing a knife at everybody,” according to the female that called 911 from a Charlo residence. Felsman allegedly had been in a physical altercation with her sister that involved a 10-inch butcher knife. 

Jeffrey James Cates-Weaselhead, 33, St. Ignatius, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal endangerment, a felony. The court found him guilty and set sentencing for March 17.

According to court documents, on Sept. 16, 2015, Cates-Weaselhead led law enforcement on a high-speed chase at speeds up to 110 mph before crashing driving off the road and through a fence. Officers found him sleeping in a patch of brush 100 feet from his vehicle. Cates-Weaselhead told officers he drank six Bud Lights. He has two prior DUI convictions.

Robert Wayne Watt, 39, Pablo, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of sexual assault, a felony. The court found him guilty and set sentencing for March 31. 

A request to relieve Watt’s GPS monitoring was not approved by the court, pending a conversation with the victim and her family to be sure they are first made aware of the possibility. 

According to court documents, on April 30, 2015, Watt knowingly subjected a 14-year-old female to sexual contact without her consent.

Chase Sheehan, 26, Noxon, admitted violating conditions of probation and had his 2010 suspended sentence revoked for sexual intercourse without consent, a felony. Sheehan was sentenced to Montana State Prison for 41 years with 31 years suspended and credited for time served. The sentence has no parole restrictions.

The original suspended sentence was 41 years with terms to complete a sexual rehabilitation program. Sheehan had completed two phases but did not complete the entire program. 

According to court documents, from December 2004 to February 2005 Sheehan had sexual contact with a young minor on at least three occasions. 

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