Lake County District Court news for Mar. 9, 2011
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following case Wednesday, March 2:
Steven Scholten, 41, Charlo, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony; not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a misdemeanor; and drivers to be licensed, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, April 20 at 9 a.m. with a jury trial set for June 6.
According to court records, charges stem from a January 8 incident following a 911 call stating a teal-colored Jeep was driving all over the road and traveling south on Highway 93 through Ronan. A Ronan police officer observed the Jeep having a difficult time maintaining his lane, and pulled over the Jeep, driven by Scholten, in the Town Pump parking lot.
The officer noted Scholten had slurred speech, difficulty maintaining his balance, and noted the smell of marijuana in the Jeep. Results of an HGN test indicated Scholten was under the influence, and results of a breath test showed Scholten’s blood alcohol level at .180. During this processing, Scholten admitted drinking four or five beers and smoking marijuana.
Abag with a green leafy substance was found under the console in the Jeep.
Scholten did not have a Montana driver’s license, and his record showed three prior DUI convictions in Michigan.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, March 3:
Alex Jungwirth, 26, Polson, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 13 months plus three years suspended (to run consecutive to the 13 months) for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony. Additionally, for the misdemeanor offense of habitual traffic offender operating a motor vehicle, Jungwirth was committed to Lake County Jail for one year with all suspended except 14 days. This sentence is to run concurrent with the first sentence.
According to court records, charges stem from an October 2010 incident where a woman was rear-ended by another vehicle that left the scene. She identified the truck to Polson Police, who followed it and noticed steam coming from under the hood, and that it was leaking fluids.
The officers stopped Jungwirth, who was driving the vehicle, and noticed he smelled of alcohol and that his speech was slow and blurred and his eyes appeared bloodshot. Jungwirth denied hitting anything, but when officers noted damage to his vehicle, Jungwirth said he hit a tree. He could not produce a driver’s license.
A preliminary blood test revealed his BAC was .221. Jungwirth’s driving record showed three prior convictions for DUI, and that he was declared a habitual traffic offender on Nov. 20, 2008, with that status continuing until Nov. 19, 2011.
Marci Jore, 29, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to issuing a bad check, a felony. Jore’s bond is reduced from $5,000 to $500 and an omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, April 7 at 9 a.m. with a jury trial Monday, May 23 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, charges stem from incidents between March 19, 2008 and February 22, 2009, when about ten checks with Jore’s signature were written to local Lake County merchants but returned and stamped “not sufficient funds” and “account closed.” The checks totaled more than $383. According to court documents, Jore had agreed to pay restitution for the checks, but failed to pay as promised.
Thomas Maestas, 55, Pablo, admitted committing an amended offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony. Sentencing is set for Thursday, April 7 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from an October 17, 2010 incident where a tribal police officer responded to a crash at 1:15 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 93 and North Valley Creek Road. The driver and passenger in a Jeep told the officer that a red truck had crossed in front their Jeep, and after impact, the Jeep was not able to steer and ended up in the barrow pit on the east side of the highway. They also believed the driver of the red truck, Maestas, was drunk. Maestas was still in his truck, which was still running and was now facing north on the west side of the highway. Damage to the truck was consistent with the Jeep occupant’s account of the wreck.
When the officer went to speak with Maestas, the officer noticed the odor of alcoholic beverage; when asked if he had been drinking, Maestas said, “a couple.” Maestas also agreed the wreck was his fault.
Maestas was uncooperative with sobriety tests, refused to give a breath sample, and refused medical attention at the scene of the crash. The passenger in the Jeep was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Records indicated that Maestas had three prior Driving Under the Influence convictions.
