Lake County District Court news for Jan. 13, 2016
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Jan. 6:
Ashley Rae Hewankorn, 28, Polson, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary, all felonies. An omnibus hearing is set for March 30 and a jury trial is set to start May 2.
According to court documents, on Dec. 14, 2015, Hewankorn arrived with Isaac Fleming at a Pablo residence where, the previous day, Fleming had been asked to leave after arguing with his girlfriend. He then fired two shots at another male at the residence.
On Dec. 14 Fleming entered the residence and pointed a gun at the male resident, who tried to take the gun away. Fleming gave the gun to Hewankorn, hit the male in the head, then went back to the car with Hewankorn. The male grabbed a hammer, went outside and broke the vehicle window. Hewankorn jumped out of the vehicle and pointed the gun at the male, who ran off. Another woman came out of the residence and yelled at Hewankorn. Hewankorn allegedly turned, pointed the gun at the woman, and fired. The bullet hit the woman in the shoulder, hit a bone, was deflected through her lung and ended up lodged in the woman’s spine.
Robert Allen Clark, 33, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Future court dates were not set at the time.
According to court documents, during a June 2013 search of Clark’s residence, a law enforcement officer found a glass pipe with meth residue a small baggie of meth.
Patrick Lee Hammer, Jr., 19, Pablo, had his sentence for felony burglary deferred for two years on conditions he successfully complete all conditions set forth in the pre-sentence agreement, including a parenting class and a chemical dependency evaluation to determine if further treatment is needed.
“That is probably one of the more important conditions,” Manley said. “You are young. You don’t need to be continuing down this path.” Manley also said the victim in this case is entitled to an apology. Although Hammer is not a parent, fatherhood classes are recommended to help him “put those good skills to use,” prosecutor Steve Eschenbacher explained, if and when Hammer becomes a father.
According to court documents, in November 2014 Hammer helped carry and stash items taken by another male from a home in Pablo.
Kain Justin Kenmille, 19, Polson, had his sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs deferred for three years and was credited for time served. Kenmille had paid for and completed a chemical dependency evaluation prior to sentencing.
“You’re young. You shouldn’t be going down this road. Good luck to you,” Manley said.
According to court documents, on June 29, 2015 during a search of Kenmille’s home law enforcement found a shoe box hidden in a hole in the couch. The box contained 53 grams of meth, cash, a scale, and an empty baggie, indicating that Kenmille was involved in distributing dangerous drugs.
Mary Madelyn Hewankorn, 27, Elmo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to start June 20.
According to court documents, in November 2014 officers responded to a call of a naked guy walking around yelling, and that he had broken a window. Officers responded and saw the man leaving the residence in boxer shorts and an afro wig. The residence was that of Hewankorn, who officers noted allegedly had burn marks on her lips from using a meth pipe. Inside officers found a lightbulb fashioned into a meth pipe with meth residue inside.
Michael Lee Berger, 52, Columbia Falls, pleaded not guilty to criminal endangerment, a felony; and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing is set for March 30 and a jury trial is set to start May 2.
According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2015, a passenger called dispatch to report that she was riding in a vehicle with Berger, he had been drinking all day in Missoula, he was swerving into the oncoming lane and she was in fear of her life and other motorists’ lives by his driving. A Lake County deputy stopped the vehicle south of Ronan on Highway 93. Berger blew a .286 blood alcohol concentration on the preliminary breath test.
Valerie L. Calfbossribs, 25, Browning, pleaded not guilty to assault on a peace or judicial officer, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for March 30 and a jury trial is set to start May 2. Calfbossribs’ seized vehicle was ordered to be released to her.
According to court documents, on Dec. 18 Calfbossribs was driving erratically and was unable to back up a road due to recent snowfall. She was revving her engine to the point that officers were concerned she would blow up her engine, but she would not stop and kept screaming at herself while in the vehicle. A Lake County Deputy tried to pin her vehicle against the side of the road so they could safely approach her vehicle, and he was able to stop it from moving, although she continued to spin the tires. A Lake County Sergeant went to the driver’s window and broke it out, and with the help of two other officers was able to get Calfbossribs out of the vehicle and on the ground.
While on the ground, Calfbossribs allegedly bit the deputy on the hand.
After obtaining a search warrant, a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. Because Calfbossribs appeared to be under the influence of drugs, a blood test was conducted.
Charmaine Curtis, 31, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs. An omnibus hearing is set for March 30 and a jury trial is set to start May 2.
According to court documents, Curtis was allegedly in possession of two pills in a bag with crystalline residue, a pill bottle with another person’s name on it, a used syringe with meth residue plus three more syringes. Curtis stated the syringes were used for injecting meth.
Angel Xavier Catha, 18, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal mischief and aggravated assault, both felonies. An omnibus hearing is set for March 30 and a jury trial is set to start May 2.
According to court documents, on Nov. 30 Catha drove his vehicle into a trailer parked in front of a Ronan home, causing the rear corner of the trailer to push through the home’s exterior wall. When the occupant of the home came outside to see if Catha was injured, he picked her up, threw her on her face onto the ground, and began hitting her. The homeowner’s daughter came outside with a bat and threatened to hit Catha unless he quit hitting her mother. A female passenger in the vehicle yelled for Catha to stop, and he fled the scene.
Jason Alan Deshazer, 31, Bigfork, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found Deshazer guilty, and sentencing is set for Feb. 10.
According to court documents, on Sept 13, 2015, Deshazer was found in possession of methamphetamine.
Travis Dishman, 31, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of partner of family member assault, a felony; burglary, a felony; and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Sentencing is set for Feb. 24. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to have no contact with the victim, including texting.
According to court documents, on Sept. 4, 2015 Dishman had assaulted a female and he was charged with partner/family member assault in Lake County Justice Court.
Between Sept. 4 and Oct 21, 2015, Dishman had sent numerous texts to the woman, alternating between saying he loved her and threatening her.
On Oct. 21 he went to the woman’s residence but she would not let him in. He threw a planter through the window and reached in and unlocked the door. Once inside, he got in a fight with another male in residence. A day later the woman discovered her tires had been slashed.
Jonathan Green, 27, Polson, admitted violating conditions of probation and parole and his three-year suspended sentence for felony burglary was revoked. He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years and credited for time served.
According to court documents, Green violated conditions when he possessed and injected methamphetamine on Dec. 7, 2015. Green pleaded with the court to give him a 48-hour OR release to see his daughter before his sentencing. The request was denied due to his history of being an absconder with a severe drug addiction. The court chose to sentence Green to expedite his entry into a treatment program.
“This problem is bigger than you can handle,” Judge Manley told Green.
Jacob Michael Albright, 32, St. Ignatius, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years for criminal possession of dangerous drugs and Lake County Jail for one year, all suspended except 30 days, for driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense, a misdemeanor. The sentences will run concurrently.
The sentence in Albright’s plea agreement was given, the court explained, because it is Albright’s first felony conviction, and it “reflects that (Albright) is taking this very seriously,” Manley said.
Before the sentence was pronounced, Albright said he is a single parent, and is doing really well in school, earning a 3.3 grade point average.
“I am meeting all my goals,” Albright said.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Jan. 7:
Mary Leslie Elizabeth Edwards, 26, Arlee, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found her guilty. She was released on her own recognizance until her sentencing date of March 17.
According to court documents, on Feb. 14, 2015, Edwards was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by law enforcement. A pipe with methamphetamine residue inside was found in the car, and she admitted the pipe was hers.
Annie Ruth Couture, 49, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to felony assault with a weapon. An omnibus hearing is set for Feb. 18, a status conference is set for March 17, and a jury trial is set to begin April 25.
According to court documents, on Nov. 24, 2015, Couture allegedly argued with her son at a Pablo bar and broke a beer bottle on his head and stabbed him in the face. The cut required five sutures at the hospital.
Tobias Mitchell, 19, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs. An omnibus hearing is set for Feb. 18, a status conference is set for March 17, and a jury trial is set to begin April 25.
According to court documents, Mitchell was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper for failing to signal a turn. Prior to the stop, the trooper had seen Mitchell smoke a meth pipe in plain view. When the vehicle was stopped, the trooper noticed Mitchell had burn blisters on his lips consistent with using a glass meth pipe. Mitchell stated he had a clonazepam in his pocket, and eventually told another officer that he smoked meth and needed to stop using it.
Michael P. Furbush, 29, Kalispell, was released on a bail modification under the terms he wear a meth patch and have no contact with his partner. An omnibus hearing is set for March 17.
According to court documents, Furbish was allegedly injecting methamphetamine in a parked car behind a Polson business on Dec. 11, 2015.
Dustin Lee Seyler, 36, Polson, admitted violating four conditions of parole and probation. He had his suspended sentence for felony theft and forgery revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years.
Ghlee Blickenstaff, 27, admitted violating several conditions of parole and probation by possessing and using methamphetamine, marijuana, and having alcohol in his possession. His suspended sentence for felony criminal endangerment, misdemeanor partner or family member assault and misdemeanor cruelty to animals was revoked, and he was sentenced to the DOC for three years, to be served consecutively after another sentence in Ravalli County.
Although Blickenstaff’s attorney requested the sentences be served concurrently, the court denied the request.
“You and I have spent a lot time together in this courtroom,” Judge Christopher told Blickenstaff, adding that Blickenstaff has significant chemical dependency problems that have the potential of washing over onto his children.
“Time for you to step up — or, not,” she said. “It’s in your hands to make that choice.”
