Lake County District Court news for Mar. 9, 2016
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
3 of 3 free articles.
Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, March 2:
Marissa Marie Longtree, 24, Ronan, had her sentence for assault on a peace officer/judicial officer with bodily injury deferred for two years with three days credited for time served. A second offense was dismissed. “Ms. Longtree has actually been doing well,” Lake County attorney and prosecutor Steve Eschenbacher said.
According to court documents, on Dec. 29, 2014, Longtree attacked a Ronan Police Officer while he was attempting to remove Longtree from attacking a victim.
Ronald John Parker, 46, Polson, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for two years with all suspended and credited for 56 days served for an amended offense of criminal endangerment. He was released from custody. Judge Manley said the reason for pronouncing this sentence was “in recognition of the fact I respect the decision of prosecutor (and the) difficulty of taking this case to trial when it is over 20 years old.” Yet Manley added, “I am somewhat hesitant.”
According to court documents, in January 1995 Parker assisted a 15-year-old Polson girl in running away from her parents. He had sexual relations with her and she became pregnant.
Melissa Chantel Heavner, 21, Missoula, had her sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs deferred for two years. Because this is Heavner’s first criminal conviction, the deferred sentence gives her the opportunity to have it removed from her history if she abides by all rules of probation during the two years.
“You are young. This could be one of the best things to happen to you if you get the treatment you need,” Judge Manley said.
According to court documents, Heavner was a passenger in a vehicle northbound on Highway 35 on Sept. 13, 2015, when the driver noticed a patrol car parked in a turnout near mile marker 12. The driver thought the deputy had crashed into a guardrail and might need his help. Heavner said she and the driver had been using methamphetamine for about three days, and showed the deputy injection sites in her arm. Meth was found in the vehicle.
Scot A. Naslund, 59, Hungry Horse, was sentenced to the DOC for five years for criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute. Naslund is to be screened for NEXUS program. He was credited for 145 days served. Manley stated that the sentence provides for punishment, which is appropriate considering Naslund’s past criminal history.
“You are right when you say this is perhaps your best opportunity to solve this lifelong problem with addiction,” Judge Manley told Naslund.
According to court documents, on Oct. 12, 2015, Naslund’s vehicle was pulled over by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper. Naslund was found to be in possession of an ounce of meth and five baggies of marijuana, plus digital scales and small zip lock bags. He told the trooper he had purchased the meth for $1,100 in Flathead County and was driving to Missoula to sell it to others.
Travis William Ruben Dishman, 31, Polson, was sentenced to six months in Lake County Jail with all suspended but 61 days already served, for criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault was deferred for one year and a count of felony burglary was deferred for three years. All sentences are to run concurrently. Four additional charges were dismissed. The sentence conforms to the plea agreement and recommendations of Probation and Parole, and takes into account that the victim reluctantly agrees, according to court documents.
Judge Manley was concerned that Dishman may feel that he really didn’t do anything wrong.
“Didn’t you say you did it because you cared too much? Isn’t that what OJ Simpson said?” Judge Manley asked Dishman before sentencing, adding, “Are getting the idea that I am not entirely happy about his plea agreement, and if you come back before the court it may not go well for you?”
According to court documents, Dishman broke into a woman’s residence in Ravalli and started a fight with a male inside. The previous month Dishman had been charged with a misdemeanor offense of partner family member assault. During the time between the assault charge and the break in, Dishman had sent numerous text messages to the woman, alternately saying he loved her and threatening her. On Oct. 22, 2015, the woman awoke to find the tires on her vehicle slashed.
Justin Dennis Nichols, 35, Desmet, Idaho, pleaded not guilty to forgery by common scheme, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for June 8 and a jury trial is set to start July 18.
According to court documents, between Aug. 5 and Dec. 26, 2014, Nichols allegedly forged at least 22 checks totaling $17,066.54, to defraud the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Nicholaus Daniel Hiatt, 23, Kalispell, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for June 8 and a jury trial is set to start July 18. Hiatt was released on his own recognizance.
According to court documents, on April 26, 2014, Hiatt was pulled over for speeding on Highway 93 near Ronan. According to the tribal officer, the vehicle smelled of marijuana and Hiatt had red, glossy eyes and slow, slurred speech. Two baggies of a white powdery substance were found in the driver’s door, and one tested positive for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as MDMA, (commonly referred to as ecstasy), a dangerous drug.
Jesse Josie Wells, 54, Heart Butte, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to start June 20.
According to court documents, on Jan. 2 during a traffic stop methamphetamine was found in Wells' possession. Wells told the trooper that he had bought meth in Washington and was on his way to Browning to sell it, and was hoping to double his money.
Stein Erick Anderson, 31, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal child endangerment, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to start June 20.
According to court documents, on Jan. 31 Stein allegedly was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in a Pablo store parking lot, with a passenger and two young children in the vehicle. A preliminary breath test indicated that Anderson’s blood alcohol concentration was .257.
Dominic Antonio Martinez, 23, Elmo, per a change of plea admitted committing a reduced offense of theft, a misdemeanor; criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony; two counts of partner or family member assault, both felonies; felony theft; and felony criminal endangerment. One count of partner/family member assault was dismissed. The court found Martinez guilty and set sentencing for April 13.
According to court documents, in 2014 Martinez took a vehicle and kept property that was not his, valued at less than $1,500. On Oct. 7, 2014, he was found in possession of a syringe with meth residue. On March 30 and June 30, 2015, he purposely and knowingly caused bodily injury to a person. On Aug. 29, 2015, Martinez took a Jeep valued at more than $1,500, and got in an accident, causing serious bodily injury to two other people.
Jude Ellsworth, 27, residence unavailable, admitted violating conditions of probation and his 2009 suspended sentence for felony burglary and felony criminal mischief was revoked. Sentencing is set for March 16.
Michael Josiah Alexander, 25, Polson, in a change of plea admitted committing an amended charge of criminal endangerment by admitting he knowingly caused risk of death or bodily injury to a victim on Aug. 1, 2015. The court found Alexander guilty and set sentencing for April 13.
According to court documents, Alexander was arrested in Ronan after allegedly admitting he had sex with a female. He said he thought the female was 20 years old but she was only 13 years old.
Annie Carpenter-Hammer, 44, St. Ignatius, in a change of plea admitted that on Dec. 31, 2014, she was in possession of methamphetamine. The court found her guilty of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and set sentencing for April 20.
Damian Armando Talamantes, 38, Ronan, was released on his own recognizance and ordered to follow all provisions of probation. Talamantes is charged with felony stalking and bail jumping. An omnibus hearing is set for May 4 and a jury trial is set to start June 20.
