Lake County District Court news for June 3, 2015
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, May 27:
Philip M. Friscia, 29, Polson, had his deferred sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs revoked and he was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years.
Michael Anthony Moran, 39, Arlee, pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony criminal endangerment. An omnibus hearing is set for July 15; a jury trial is set to start Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on April 18 Moran allegedly tried to burn his parents’ home down by spreading cooking oil and PAM spray throughout the house and igniting it. The parents were home and called 911, and barricaded themselves into a bedroom while Moran was highly intoxicated and breaking things.
Christopher Clark, 42, Missoula, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 15 with a trial set to begin Sept. 1.
According to court documents, an elementary student told a school counselor that her stepdad had been touching her privates, and she feared for her younger sister’s welfare as well. The student reported that while her mother is at work, Clark is verbally and physically abusive, slaps and spanks her, and throws her little sister around. An examination of the younger sister revealed cracked ribs and bruising throughout her body, some bruises being very recent.
Jacob Michael Albright, 31, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal child endangerment, both felonies; establishment of special speed zones, engineering and traffic investigation, a misdemeanor; and child safety restraint systems — standards — exemptions, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing set for July 15; a jury trial is set to start Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on April 16 a Tribal officer clocked a truck traveling toward him at 71 mph in a 35 mph zone on St. Mary’s Lake Road in St. Ignatius. The driver, Albright, slammed on his brakes as he passed the officer, and the officer pulled him over just east of Hillside Road. The officer smelled alcohol. Albright told the officer he had been drinking. A check of Albright’s driving record showed one previous lifetime conviction for DUI. Albright refused to provide a breath sample. Two children, ages 6 and 4, were unrestrained in the vehicle.
Matthew Michael Waterman, 26, Polson, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing set for July 15; a jury trial is set to start Sept. 1.
According to court documents, on April 30 at about 3:24 a.m. a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy came upon green truck that had wrecked into the guardrail on Ravalli Hill along Highway 93, partially blocking the lane. When the officer contacted Waterman, the driver, he appeared passed out. Waterman staggered out of the car and said he had consumed about a six-pack of beer, but he refused field sobriety tests and became argumentative and uncooperative. The officer noticed a strong smell of alcohol on Waterman’s breath.
During processing at the jail he admitted driving the vehicle, but said he was parked off the road taking a nap. His driving record showed three prior DUI convictions.
Trent Johnathan Lell, 33, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of DUI, fourth of subsequent offense, a felony. Lell admitted to some allegations in three additional separate charges, and his suspended sentences were revoked. The court found Lell guilty and sentencing is set for July 15.
According to court documents, On Jan. 14 Lell was driving intoxicated eastbound on Round Butte Road when he went off the road, down an embankment before crashing through a barbed-wire fence. When officers arrived he was incoherent but uninjured. Lell was driving on a suspended license and his driving record showed six prior DUI convictions.
Stephen Leo Sneeringer, 40, Whitefish, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found him guilty and Sneeringer was sentenced to DOC for two years, all suspended.
According to court documents, Sneeringer was arrested March 16 on an outstanding warrant, and a morphine pill was found in his pocket.
Teddy Paul Allestad, 27, Arlee, in a change of plea admitted committing an amended offense of partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor. The court found him guilty and deferred sentencing for one year as long a he serves seven days in Lake County Jail, with credit for time served.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, May 28:
Edward G. Truman, 25, Polson, was sentenced to DOC for five years for criminal endangerment, a felony.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Feb. 21 incident where Truman was driving 105 mph in a 65 mph zone. He would not pull over when a Highway Patrol Trooper tried to stop him.
As Truman sped up Mud Lake Trail, he forced a car off the road before crashing his own vehicle.
Reba Ann Hawkins, 27, St. Ignatius, was sentenced to Montana State Women’s Prison for five years on each of two counts of assault on a peace officer. The two five-year sentences will run consecutively, for a total of 10 years. For two counts of theft, Hawkins was sentenced to DOC for 10 years on each, all suspended.
According to court documents, On Sept. 21, 2014, Hawkins failed to pull over when a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy tried to make a traffic stop along Highway 93. She accelerated to speeds of 100 mph as she neared Ronan, causing a semi truck to break hard to avoid a collision when she ran a stop sign. She continued weaving through back roads until she was cornered on a dead end road near North Foothills Drive. She turned her vehicle around and rammed one of the deputy’s car, causing injury to the deputy, and then drove head on into another deputy’s vehicle. Both deputies were sent to the hospital with injuries sustained in the collisions. One of the theft charges stemmed from an August 2014 incident where Hawkins stole $60,000-80,000 worth of tools from a storage unit in St. Ignatius, and the other charge stemmed from a Sept. 12, 2014 incident where she stole a tool trailer from outside of Allard’s General Store in St. Ignatius.
Richard Wayne Snyder, 37, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Sept. 17; a jury trial is set to begin Oct. 26.
According to court documents, on May 3 Snyder allegedly grabbed a woman by her throat outside of a Ronan grocery store, choked her until she passed out, punched her in her ear and slammed her head on the concrete. The victim said this was not the first time he had hurt her; he had previously broken her nose.
Gordon Larry Ahenakew, Jr., 28, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Sept. 17.
According to court documents, Ahenakew was arrested on an outstanding warrant, and five Clonazepam pills were found on him. Ahenekew did not have a prescription for the drugs.
Steven Lee Rodriguez, 45, Pablo, pleaded not guilt to DUI, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 23; a jury trial is on the calendar for Sept. 21.
According to court documents, Rodriguez was stopped at the intersection of Highways 93 and 35 for crossing the center line and fog line several times while driving northbound on Highway 93.
Two breath samples while in detention showed Rodriguez’s blood alcohol concentration was .168. Rodriguez is on probation with eight prior DUI convictions.
Daniel Savard, 57, Polson in a change of plea admitted committing criminal child endangerment, a felony. The court found him guilty. Sentencing is set for July 16.
According to court documents, in April 2014 Savard was arrested for driving while intoxicated. There was an infant in a car seat inside his vehicle.
Dustin Lee Spottedblanket, 29, Polson, admitted violating conditions of probation and had his suspended sentence revoked. He was sentenced to DOC for 5 years.
Angela Dawn (Hawkins) Martinez, 41, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony; and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Sept. 17.
According to court documents, on April 9 Martinez was pulled over by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper who knew the driver’s license was suspended. She appeared intoxicated and there was an open beer can on the floorboard. She gave a breath sample that read .150. While searching her vehicle, the trooper found another beer can and a pill crusher and insufflation tubes with oxycodone residue. Martinez said she had a prescription for the oxycodone but was unable to provide it. Her driving record showed four prior DUI convictions.
