Lake County District Court news for April 23, 2014
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, April 16:
Michael Gardipee, 35, Conley Lake Road, stood by his guilty plea and was sentenced to Montana State Prison for 10 years, none suspended, for intimidation, a felony. For assault, a misdemeanor, Gardipee was sentenced to Lake County Jail for six months to run concurrent with the first sentence. He was also credited for already serving 127 days.
According to court documents, charges stem from a November 2013 incident where officers arrived at a domestic abuse call and found a woman lying outside the apartment with a broken leg. She also had blood on her face. After she was taken to the hospital, hospital personnel called to saw she also had a gunshot wound to her leg. In a later interview, she identified another man who had shot her, but she was clear that it was Gardipee who was hitting her and kicking her after she dragged herself outside. Gardipee had told witness to not call the police or he would kill them. Officers confirmed the woman had a fat lip, a black eye and pattern injuries on her nose consistent with a shoe tread. Gardipee later identified the man who had shot the woman. The incident occurred over a missing iPad.
Terry Alan Witman, 51, Charlo, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, June 4 with a jury trial set to begin Monday, July 28.
According to court documents, charges stem from a March 16 incident where Witman was pulled over on Highway 212 by a Sheriff’s deputy, who noticed the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. Witman told the deputy he had four beers at a Charlo bar, and then performed poorly on field sobriety tests. He also admitted he had marijuana and a pipe in his pocket, which the deputy found. Witman was arrested and provided a breath sample at the jail, which showed he had a blood alcohol content of .147. His driving record showed at least three prior DUI convictions.
Roseanna Fisher, 59, Ronan, admitted violating conditions of probation and parole and had her suspended sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs revoked. Fisher was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, with none suspended. The court recommended she be screened for Passages.
