Lake County District Court news for Jan. 21, 2015
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Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Jan. 15:
Adrian Michael McElderry, 32, Charlo, appeared in court but the defense attorney asked to vacate the planned March 9 trial date citing reasons that a defense motion was still pending and the State Crime Lab will need two months to perform several tests.
An omnibus hearing was set for March 26.
McElderry is being held on deliberate homicide charges for allegedly fatally shooting his wife on Nov. 18, 2014 in their Charlo home.
Jonnell Patricia Wieder, 27, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of criminal child endangerment and a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. An omnibus hearing was set for Feb. 19 and a jury trial was set to begin April 27.
According to court documents, charges stem from a May 2014 incident where a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper pulled Wieder over for failing to slow down or pull over for emergency vehicles. Two children, ages 2 and 5, were in the vehicle. The trooper smelled the odor of burned marijuana in the vehicle, and Wieder said she had smoked marijuana an hour before driving. She also said he would find a “tooter” and a crushed pill in the car; the trooper found a dollar bill with residue. A sample of Wieder’s blood showed it contained THC, and the state crime lab identified the drug residue to be hydrocodone.
Wanda Marlene Adams, 42, Missoula, pleaded not guilty to criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Feb. 19 and a jury trial was set to begin April 27.
According to court documents, charges stem from a September 2013 incident at a gas station along Highway 93 where a confidential informant purchased three bags of methamphetamine from Adams. The drugs sale was monitored by the North West Drug Task Force.
Samual Vaughn Spottedeagle, Sr., 33, Browning, pleaded not guilty to a felony count of partner or family member assault. An omnibus hearing was set for Feb. 19 and a jury trial was set to begin April 13.
According to court documents, charges stem from a December 2014 incident where a man called 911 to report that someone had beaten up his wife in front of a Ronan church. When a Ronan police officer arrived, people were tending to the woman, who had blood all over her face. Bystanders identified Spottedeagle as the one who hit her, and the officer found him sitting on rocks at the end of the parking lot. Spottedeagle said that he had been drinking. His criminal record shows at least three prior convictions for partner/family member assault, and two were against this same victim.
Spottedeagle stated the woman is his fiancé.
Jessica Dooley, 38, Charlo, pleaded not guilty to forgery by common scheme, a felony.
An omnibus hearing was set for March 5 and a jury trial for April 27.
According to court documents, charges stem from August and September 2014, where Dooley allegedly wrote eight checks for a total of $625 on an account that belonged to a Charlo grocer.
Dooley told authorities that she did not have permission to write the checks, and that she had a relapse in her drug addiction that contributed to her theft.
Mary J. Hawk, 25, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for March 5 and a jury trial for April 27.
According to court documents, charges stem from a December 2014 incident where the vehicle Hawk was driving was stopped by a MHP trooper. She appeared nervous, and told the trooper there was a used methamphetamine syringe in her vehicle, which he found along with a spoon with residue, cotton swabs and baggies.
Michael Ernest Stevens, 58, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. A status conference was set and a jury trial date will be decided later.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Jan. 7 traffic stop at 8 p.m. in Pablo. The driver, Stevens, was unable to perform sobriety maneuvers and his breath sample read .097. He admitted he was under the influence of alcohol. Stevens’ driving record showed he has five prior DUI convictions.
Roger Andy Pablo, Jr., 33, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony; criminal endangerment, a felony, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. Pablo, Jr. also entered a general denial to charges that he violated conditions of probation and parole on a 2012 conviction of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.
An omnibus hearing is set for Feb. 19 and a jury trial is set to begin April 13.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Jan. 1 incident where a Tribal officer attempted to pull Stevens over after Stevens ran a stop sign. With two other people in the car, Stevens took off at a high rate of speed, traveling in excess of 60 mph in a 25 mph zone. He continued onto Highway 93 and sped up to more than 100 mph before turning back toward St. Ignatius. During the pursuit, Stevens led officers throughout the St. Ignatius area, and nearly hit a man riding a bicycle on Watson Road. Stevens drove into a field and tried to flee on foot, but was tased and arrested.
Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was found in the car. Stevens’ driving record showed more than three prior DUI arrests.
Willamena M. Billedeaux, 29, Elmo, in a change of plea pleaded no contest, but admitted there was enough evidence for her to go to trial for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found her guilty. Sentencing is set for Feb. 19.
According to court documents, charges stem from a November 2013 incident where Billedeaux was arrested for public nuisance for being highly intoxicated. While in tribal jail, a detention officer found in Billedeaux’s purse a syringe containing methamphetamine and a spoon.
Stacey Edward Stevens, 40, St. Ignatius, in a change of plea admitted committing an amended offense of burglary, a felony. The court found Stevens guilty. Two other charges were dismissed. Sentencing is set for Feb. 19.
According to court documents, charges stem from a December 2012 incident where Stevens broke into an acquaintance’s trailer to look for his girlfriend or wife who he believed was sleeping with the acquaintance.
Quintin Howard Roland, 49, Moiese, changed his plea to no contest to amended counts of partner or family member assault, both misdemeanors. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to six months in Lake County Jail for each of the offenses, all suspended, to run consecutively. He was also ordered to complete a men’s accountability/anger management program within 90 days.
Jacob Paul Ephriam Harteis, 24, no residence, in a change of plea admitted committing the felony offense of arson. The court found him guilty and set sentencing for Feb. 19.
According to court documents, charges stem from an Oct. 28 incident where Harteis was seen fighting with his ex-girlfriend, accusing her of having relations with another man. Harteis said he would burn down her house, and 20 minutes after the female left her home, her house was on fire.
A neighbor told a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy that he saw a man near the home before the fire, and that the man traded four cigarettes for a lighter. The neighbor left for the store, and when he returned, the victim’s house was on fire.
Around 10 p.m. Harteis asked his nephew for a ride from near the scene of the fire. When the nephew noticed the house on fire, Harteis ducked down, hid in the car, and demanded the nephew get him out of there and hurry up, according to court documents.
A preliminary report from the State Fire Marshall indicates the fire was human caused.
