Lake County District Court news for April 22, 2015
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, April 15:
Michael Joe Matt, 32, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a weapon, a felony, and one count of partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing is set for July 15; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on March 14 Flathead Tribal Police responded to a report that a man was drunk and hitting a woman, and the reporting party could hear the man loading his gun. According to witnesses, Matt allegedly punched his wife twice in the head and pointed a loaded gun at her and at another person in the home.
Stephen Leo Sneeringer, 39, Whitefish, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for June 17; a jury trial is set to begin Aug. 3.
According to court documents, on March 16 a Polson Police officer arrested Sneeringer on outstanding warrants, and a morphine pill was found in Sneeringer’s pocket.
Teddy Paul Allestad, 27, Arlee, pleaded not guilty to assault on a minor, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 15; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on March 22 Allestad allegedly grabbed his 6-year-old stepson by the boy’s shirt collar and twisted, causing the boy to choke and cough. After the incident the boy said he went to his room and “starved,” stating he did not have any breakfast, lunch or dinner the day of the incident. The incident left strangulation marks on the boy’s neck, and school staff called dispatch to report it. A Lake County deputy also noted bruising on his arms. The boy said his stepdad “hog-tied” him with a red strap and had thrown him everywhere. The boy said he is afraid of his stepdad and didn’t want to return home. During the interview, the boy noted another incident of choking that had occurred around Christmas, which was verified during an interview with Allestad and the boy’s mother. The mother admitted Allestad gets “a little rough with (her son)” and that Allestad is getting more and more aggressive to where she is concerned about leaving the boy alone with Allestad.
David Neale Gonzales, 38, Pablo, admitted violating conditions of probation and parole and had his suspended sentence for partner family member assault revoked. He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for two years, all suspended.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, April 16:
Jonnell Patricia Wieder, 27, St. Ignatius, was sentenced to Lake County Jail for six months, all suspended except 30 days, for criminal child endangerment. A criminal possession of dangerous drugs charge was deferred for three years. The two sentences will run concurrently.
According to court documents, the vehicle Wieder was driving was stopped May 14, 2014, for failing to yield for emergency vehicles. Two children were in the vehicle, and Wieder admitted smoking marijuana an hour earlier. She said she shouldn’t have been driving a motor vehicle, especially with her children. A blood test determined Wieder’s blood contained THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.
Marcus Azure, 25, Ronan, was sentenced to DOC for four years, none suspended, for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. He was also sentenced to DOC four years, all suspended, on a second count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. A third count was dismissed.
According to court documents, Azure was arrested in September 2013 in Ronan on an unrelated incident, and a plastic tube containing several methadone pills were found in his pocket. Then on December 2013 Azure was arrested and drug paraphernalia and residue was found in Azure’s possession.
Vivian Josephine Plante, 55, Arlee, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, fourth or subsequent offense. An omnibus hearing is set for May 7; a jury trial is set to begin June 22.
According to court documents, Plante had allegedly crashed her car into the Wilson Foods sign on Dec. 1, 2012, at about 4:31 p.m.
She had a cut on her head and was taken to a Missoula hospital, where she had her blood drawn and sent to the state crime lab. The results determined she had alcohol and hydrocodone in her blood.
Plante has three prior DUI convictions.
Andy Loren Fisher, 29, Missoula, pleaded not guilty to felony theft. An omnibus hearing is set for May 7; a jury trial is set for June 22.
According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2014, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a vehicle. The female driver appeared to move things around in the back seat as the trooper approached. She said there were two “TVs” in the back seat that were purchased from Craig’s List, when in fact they were computer monitors. Fisher was also in the car with a backpack that contained four Dell laptop computers. Serial numbers matched one monitor and two laptops reported stolen from the Hot Springs Library. The Library had reported that someone had stolen four laptops and two computer monitors.
Ropeti Ropeti, 24, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. An omnibus hearing is set for May 7; a jury trial is set for June 22.
According to court documents, on March 18 a juvenile female said she was a victim of rape at Ropeti’s residence. Lake County Sheriff’s officers interviewed Ropeti, and he admitted having sexual relations with the girl twice in his home. He said he knew she was 15 years old at the time, and that she was not of age to give consent.
Charles Leroy Cahoon, 48, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for June 11; a jury trial is set for July 27.
According to court documents, on March 18 Cahoon reported to his probation officer and allegedly said he had used methamphetamine that morning, and that there was more methamphetamine in his house. A search of Cahoon’s home produced a used methamphetamine injection kit and a baggie of methamphetamine.
Earl Matt Jr., was sentenced to the DOC for three years, none suspended, for driving under the influence of drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony.
