Lake County District Court news for Aug. 3, 2016
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Judge James A. Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, July 27:
Andrew William Samsel, 32, Polson, had his sentence for theft deferred for three years on conditions he pay restitution and successfully complete a drug treatment program. A second count of burglary was dismissed. He was credited for 51 days already served in jail, and has already paid $3,574 in restitution.
Samsel stole items from homes in Ronan and Polson during June and July 2015, according to court documents.
Judge Manley pronounced the deferred sentence, theft victim Shaunda Albert testified under oath, addressing Samsel about his actions.
“You don’t know what you caused to my family,” Albert said. “Going to sleep the first week or so, knowing that you stole my gun … we were afraid for our lives. We didn’t know if you were going to come back and cause turmoil for us.”
Albert said she’s known Samsel’s family for a long time and is sorry he is putting his parents through this.
“I just hope that you can get the help that you need,” Albert said, “and come out clean and be a productive person in this community.”
Judge Manley had stern words for Samsel, saying the community is outraged by the behavior of Samsel and his cohorts.
“There are a lot of people in this community that want me to just send you away for a long time and throw away the key,” Judge Manley said. “It wasn’t very long ago that we in this community didn’t worry about locking our cars or locking our houses if we left for an hour. And now people do that.”
Samsel said he sincerely apologized to the two families he victimized, and to his friends, family and the community and thanked Judge Manley “for giving me the chance to get the treatment that I need.”
Jiry Hammond, 39, St. Ignatius, admitted to allegations that he assaulted a girlfriend while in Alaska during December 2015 and was in possession of methamphetamine. Because Hammond is on probation from Lake County, his suspended sentenced was revoked. He was sentenced to the Montana State Prison for five years, all suspended, and ordered to pay a remaining restitution amount of $36,000. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim, but he may return to his job in Alaska.
Hammond was sentenced in November 1998 to the Department of Corrections for 20 years with 10 suspended for felony aggravated assault. In 2003 in Missoula County he was sentenced to MSP for 10 years with five suspended for felony tampering with witnesses and informants, and sentenced as a persistent felony offender.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher sentenced the following individuals Thursday, July 28:
Cammie Lynn Dupuis, 29, Missoula, had her sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs deferred for two years. She was sentenced to four days in Lake County Jail and credited for four days already served.
The charge stems from July 24, 2015, when Dupuis was pulled over while driving in Pablo. Marijuana and methamphetamine were found in her purse, according to court documents.
Judge Christopher acknowledged that Dupuis has completed a drug treatment program and that she has made efforts toward her rehabilitation.
“I see a lot of reasons for you to fall off the wagon, and a lot of reasons not to,” Judge Christopher told Dupuis. “You look a lot better than you did before, I hope you can stay with it.”
