Lake County District Court news for Feb. 17, 2016
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Feb. 10:
Casey Cash Spang, 24, Pablo, had his sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs deferred for two years, on conditions he follow all recommendations.
According to court documents, on May 14, 2015, Spang’s vehicle was stopped for traffic violations and baggies with methamphetamine residue, a syringe and meth pipes were found in his vehicle.
Paul E. Mahseelah, Jr., 43, Polson, per a plea agreement admitted committing the amended offense of driving under the influence of alcohol, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The court found him guilty and dismissed two other charges. Sentencing was set for March 30.
According to court documents, Mahseelah drove into a trailer park in Pablo while intoxicated. A blood draw revealed his blood alcohol content was .247.
Libby Mae Davis, 25, Ronan, per a plea agreement admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found her guilty and set sentencing for March 30.
According to court documents, on Sept. 3, 2015, Davis was arrested on outstanding warrants and a meth pipe with meth residue was found in her pocket.
Stacey Luzzell Hill, 39, Polson, per a plea agreement admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found her guilty and set sentencing for March 30.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2015, Hill was a passenger in a truck that was stopped for not having a license plate. She consented to have her purse searched and a meth pipe with meth residue was found inside her purse.
Felicite Rose McDonald, 32, Arlee, pleaded not guilty to attempt (arson) and criminal mischief, both felonies. An omnibus hearing is set for March 30 and a jury trial is set to start May 2. McDonald was released on her own recognizance on conditions set by the court.
According to court documents, on Nov. 11, 2015, McDonald allegedly smashed the windows of two vehicles and the basement windows at a male’s home in Arlee. A neighbor reported seeing McDonald breaking the windows and throwing gasoline on a recreation vehicle. When law enforcement arrived, they found her sitting on a hammer in the woods, crying. Two gas containers were found next to the residence, and one appeared to have been on fire.
Damage appeared to be in excess of $1,500.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Feb. 11:
Keith Gaffaney, 43, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, marijuana less than 60 grams, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for April 28, a status conference is set for May 26 and a jury trial is set to start July 11.
According to court documents, on June 3, 16 marijuana plants weighing a total of 104 grams were discovered in Gaffaney’s residence. Gaffaney allegedly admitted growing and caring for the plants.
Francis Burke, Jr., 22, Pablo, in a change of plea admitted committing the offenses of criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies.
Burke admitted that on Dec. 8, 2013, he was involved in an incident where he fired a handgun into a home with people inside. He also had methamphetamine in his possession. The court found him guilty on both counts and set sentencing for April 7.
Norma Lefthand Quaring, 51, Ronan, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. Quaring admitted that on June 22, 2014, she was in a vehicle that was stopped by the police, and she had a straw with methamphetamine residue in her possession.
The court found Quaring guilty and set sentencing for April 7.
She was released on her own recognizance to get a chemical dependency evaluation prior to sentencing.
John Paul Montoya, 58, Arlee, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony.
Montoya admitted that in October 2015 he was driving in Lake County under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The court found Montoya guilty and set sentencing for April 7.
Because Montoya has seven prior DUI convictions, including misdemeanors, dating back to 1997 in Utah and Wyoming, Judge Christopher warned that he could become a “persistent offender on the next charge if he is not very, very careful.”
Aaron Todd Williams, 30, Ronan, in a change of plea admitted committing the offenses of felony partner family member assault and violation of protection order, third offense, a felony.
Williams admitted that on July 6, 2015, he violated a no-contact order with a female and caused her physical harm. The court found him guilty and set sentencing for April 7.
The court approved his release pending Williams receives pretrial supervision with compliance monitoring GPS before leaving jail. Williams was ordered to have no contact with the victim, to stay in touch with counsel and probation and work with the mental health and chemical dependency departments.
Roberta Rodda, 30, Missoula, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.
An omnibus hearing is set for March 31, a status conference is set for April 14 and a jury trial is set to begin May 23.
Rodda’s counsel requested she be released on her own recognizance. “There has been a self-realization that she needs help,” her attorney argued.
The prosecution disagreed, stating she had been previously released on three pending meth cases in 2014 and 2015.
According to court documents, after she was arrested on the latest charge for having methamphetamine in her possession on Dec. 15, 2015, she was released from jail on terms that she would get a drug patch by Dec. 18, 2015.
“I was rewarded by her not doing what she agreed to do and not showing up for court,” Chief Deputy Prosecutor James Lapotka said. “I think she is danger to herself.”
The court denied the request for release.
Raymond C. Nichols, 31, Elmo, pleaded not guilty to partner or family member assault and kidnapping, both felonies. He also pleaded not guilty to criminal destruction of or tampering with communication device, a misdemeanor.
An omnibus hearing is set for April 28, a status conference for May 26 and a jury trial for July 11.
According to court documents, on Jan. 19, while driving with a partner or family member in the passenger seat, Nichols pushed the victim’s head into the passenger side window several times, held the victim against her will and refused to stop the vehicle after numerous requests for the victim to be let out, rolled up the window after she tried to signal others for help, and took her cell phone and refused to return it so she was unable to call to report the assault and kidnapping in progress. Nichols’ and the victim’s infant child was in the car at the time.
