Lake County District Court news for Aug. 13, 2014
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Aug. 6:
Dana Comesatnight, 32, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, Oct. 1 with a jury trial set to begin Monday, Nov. 17.
According to court documents, charges stem from an April 3 incident where Comesatnight was detained for a traffic stop on Highway 93. A pat down search revealed a scale commonly used to weigh dangerous drugs and a small baggie presumed to be methamphetamine. Comesatnight allegedly told the Montana State Trooper that she was an alcohol and had recently used methamphetamine, and that the meth in the baggie was hers. The baggie and scale were sent to the Montana state crime lab for analysis.
Alfred McLeod, 66, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony; criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony; and criminal possession with intent to distribute, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, Oct. 1 with a jury trial set to begin Monday, Nov. 17.
According to court documents, charges stem from a September 2013 incident where, inside a wilderness camper parked next to a residence in Polson, a confidential informant purchased two plastic bags of methamphetamine from McLeod. The drug sale was monitored by the Northwest Drug Task Force, who had a warrant to record the drug sale.
The informant told an officer that when he entered the trailer, McLeod and another woman were at the table, packaging meth into smaller plastic bags from a large plastic bag. The informant paid McLeod $100, and McLeod counted it a couple of times before McLeod placed the money in his wallet. The state crime lab confirmed the purchased substance was meth.
A search warrant was served on the residence and meth residue, a scale, straws modified into scoops or spoons were all discovered.
McLeod told the officer that all his dope was in a locked case, which was located and opened. Inside were several small, knotted plastic bags full of methamphetamine. McLeod also told the officer about six Lorazapam drugs in a cellophane wrapper, which were found. An officer then searched the camper and found another digital scale with methamphetamine residue. McLeod told the officer that he had been selling methamphetamine for six months.
Due to the serious nature of McLeod’s crime, the state requested $100,000 bail.
Karen Valerie Tromp, 61, Arlee, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, Oct. 1 with a jury trial set to begin Monday, Nov. 17.
According to court documents, charges stem from around July 5 where Tromp consented to a search while at the Arlee powwow grounds. A tribal officer located a small plastic bag with suspected methamphetamine inside and a pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue. Both were sent to the state crime lab for analysis.
Jason Alan Bear, 35, Kalispell, admitted violating terms of probation and parole and had his suspended sentence for criminal possession with intent to distribute revoked. Bear was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years with none suspended.
Lloyd Daryle Twoteeth, 43, Polson, in a change of plea, pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The court found Twoteeth guilty. A felony criminal endangerment charge was dismissed. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, Sept. 10.
According to court documents, charges stem from June 26 about 7 p.m. when a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper was notified of a hit and run collision in the parking lot of KwaTaqNuk. The trooper located the vehicle traveling on Highway 93 and attempted to stop the driver, Twoteeth, but the Twoteeth flipped the officer off and drove into the oncoming lane as he turned onto a side road, where Twoteeth reached speeds of 80 miles per hour in a posted 35 mph zone. Twoteeth then turned back onto Highway 93 toward Polson in medium traffic at 90 miles per hour, slamming on his breaks while attempting to cause a collision. The trooper rear-ended Twoteeth’s vehicle. Twoteeth then stopped and came at the trooper in a fighting stance, throwing his beer can at the trooper. The can hit the patrol vehicle and splattered beer. Twoteeth also flung his cigarette at the trooper and charged him.
A tribal police officer attempted to use a taser on Twoteeth but it had no effect. The trooper also tased Twoteeth, but Twoteeth pulled the probes out of himself and continued his aggressive behavior.
The two officers were forced to grapple with Twoteeth in the median of the busy highway until they gained control of Twoteeth and placed him in handcuffs and a restraint chair.
Twoteeth continued to be combative and was taken to St. Joseph’s hospital for a blood draw in full restraints and a spit hood.
Twoteeth said he was tired of all the coke, meth and alcohol, and that he had drank enough whiskey to make him dizzy.
Twoteeth’s driving record revealed three prior DUI convictions.
Gerard Blackcrow, 42, Billings, admitted violating conditions of probation and parole and had his suspended sentence for aggravated burglary and robbery revoked. Blackcrow was sentenced to DOC for three years with none suspended.
Blackcrow’s original sentencing occurred in 1998; he was sentenced to Montana State Prison for 40 years with 20 suspended for using a weapon while committing the offense.
