Lake County District Court news for June 17, 2015
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, June 10:
Tyler Frederick Erickson, 21, Polson, had his deferred sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs revoked was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years. For another current conviction of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, Erickson was sentenced to DOC for five years. The two sentences will run concurrently.
Daniel T. Beavers, 47, Polson, for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony, was sentenced to DOC for 13 months plus a three year probation, with all suspended, to run consecutively to the 13 month sentence.
According to court documents, on Oct. 4, 2014, Beavers was pulled over on Highway 93 and provided a breath sample that indicated his blood alcohol content was .161. He had at least three prior DUI convictions.
Darcy Faye Faler, age and city unavailable, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 29; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 14.
According to court documents, on April 16 a Montana Highway Patrol trooper responded to a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 83 in Lake County. The SUV had gone 20 feet down a steep embankment, rolling once, and suffered significant damage.
Faler, the driver, had her four children in the vehicle: a 2-month old, two children almost 1-year-old, and one almost five years old.
Faler told the trooper she had swerved to miss a deer. He noted she showed signs of intoxication and smelled the odor of alcohol.
When asked how much she had to drink, she told the officer, “two.”
She agreed to provide a blood sample, and her BAC results were .293. Her driving record showed three prior DUI convictions.
Carla Adelle Crandall, 41, Polson, admitted committing two counts of DUI, fourth or subsequent offenses, both felonies. The court found her guilty and sentencing is set for July 22.
According to court documents, on Jan. 17 a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy saw a vehicle make three exaggerated turns in the downtown Polson area. The deputy pulled the driver, Crandall, over. She refused field sobriety tests but after being arrested, returned a .313 BAC on the intoxilizer. Crandall has three prior DUI convictions. Court documents show Crandall had another DUI violation two days prior, but details were unavailable.
Casey Cash Spang, 23, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 29; a jury trial is set to begin Sept. 14.
According to court documents, on May 14 a tribal officer pulled Spang over for multiple traffic violations. Two small baggies of suspected methamphetamine were found in the vehicle, as well as several items of drug paraphernalia containing residue.
John Christopher Ochs, 19, St. Ignatius, was sentenced to DOC for five years, none suspended, for assault with a weapon, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. The court recommends Ochs be placed in a NEXIS treatment.
According to court documents, on June 21, 2014, Ochs became angry and began flipping furniture, breaking glass bowls, brandishing a butcher knife and threatening his mother and brother.
Alberta Caye, 49, Elmo, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found her guilty. Sentencing is set for July 22.
According to court documents, in November 2013 Caye was pulled over by a tribal officer. She appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant and was arrested. Methamphetamine was located in her backpack.
Eli Francis Diaz, 34, Pablo, in a change or plea admitted committing two counts of felony criminal endangerment. Sentencing is set for July 22.
According to court documents, in Pablo on the afternoon of Nov. 4, 2014, Diaz fired shots at his girlfriend of five years and also at a couple that arrived during the assault. He also hit his girlfriend with a heavy flashlight and pistol-whipped her with a revolver.
Kathy Jasso, 52, St. Ignatius, admitted violating terms of probation and was sentenced to DOC for four years, none suspended, to run concurrent with two Flathead County cases.
Aaron C. Dodge, 45, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing three felony counts of assault with a weapon and one felony count of partner or family member assault. The court found Dodge guilty and set sentencing for July 22.
According to court documents, on April 18 Dodge was drinking and watching TV when he got into an argument with his wife and daughter about an actress. As the argument escalated, Dodge allegedly struck his wife with his hand. When the argument continued, Dodge used his “usual tool of persuasion,” a sawed-off shotgun with a round in the chamber. Feeling that there was no other way to end the argument, the court documents state, Dodge pointed the shotgun at the floor and pulled the trigger. The ricocheting buckshot struck his wife, daughter and son. Dodge admitted he may have pointed the gun at his wife as he lowered it to the floor. The wounded family members were able to grab the car keys and leave. Dodge also left the scene but was arrested when he returned home. Dodge’s arrest history showed two or more prior domestic assault convictions.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, June 11:
Debbie McCauley, 49, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 27; a jury trial is set to start Nov. 9.
According to court documents, in August 2013, during a search of a premises, a Polson police officer found methamphetamine in McCauley’s purse.
Leonard Levi Peak, Jr., 46, Arlee, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 27; a jury trial is set to start Nov. 9.
According to court documents, on May 12 Peak allegedly got in a fight with another man over a woman. Peak allegedly punched the man in the neck, then grabbed a hatchet and was swinging it at the man, who defended himself with a broom handle. When the victim escaped to his home and locked the door, Peak allegedly hit the victim’s door with the hatchet several times and then struck the victim’s car with the hatchet. Peak left the scene but was later found and arrested.
Edward W. Stasso, 50, Polson, was arrested June 10 on a $25,000 bond for violating conditions of his release for the offense of aggravated assault. In court on Thursday, Stasso was released with a SCRAM bracelet.
According to court documents, on March 26 a woman came to the courthouse to report an assault. Dispatch said they had a hard time understanding her because her mouth was bleeding and her face was swollen. A Polson Police officer responded and observed that the left side of the victim’s face so swollen she could not see out of her left eye; there was fresh blood on her lips, and the right side of her face was also swollen. She was taken to emergency room, where she said her left side was painful and her ribs hurt where Stasso hit her. The fight stemmed from jealousy, she said, and she told the officer that Stasso had kneed her in the groin several times until she bled, and had put his elbow in the middle of her throat to choke her.
