Lake County District Court news for Dec. 28, 2016
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Judge James A. Manley sentenced the following people Wednesday, Dec. 21:
Eneas Eugene Conko, 37, received a one-year deferred sentence for possession of dangerous drugs. According to court records, he was arrested following an Aug. 8 traffic stop in which County Commissioner Bill Barron reported that someone in a Cadillac was trying to hit his vehicle on Highway 93 north of Ronan. Barron said the Cadillac passed him and then sped up and slammed on the brakes several times. The vehicle was stopped in Ronan and Conko was a passenger in the vehicle, court records state. Two plastic baggies containing what later tested positive for methamphetamine were found in the glove box. Conko was on probation at the time and blew a .171 in a blood alcohol content test, according to a court document.
Anthony Everheart received a five-year suspended sentence in the Department of Corrections for burglary. According to court records, Everheart and another man entered a victim’s trailer on Kalispell Street in Elmo when the victim was in jail. The men took the victim’s property, including several guns, a bow, 250 movies and other items. The men said they took the property to prevent others from taking it. Judge Manley said Everheart has been getting in trouble for 17 years. “My concern is: does he have a way of making a living besides making and selling drugs?” Manley said in court on Dec. 21. Everheart’s attorney, Lael Gabrian, said Everheart is working 70 hours a week at two jobs. Deputy county attorney Ben Anciaux said Everheart has paid full restitution in the case.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher sentenced the following people on Thursday, Dec. 22:
Echo Christina Shaner, 34, Kalispell, for felony theft was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years with all suspended but 77 days already served. She was released to follow conditions of probation and ordered to pay $6,936 in restitution. The plea agreement states Shaner must take parenting classes and serve 100 hours of community service.
The community is allegedly the victim of criminal activity, Christopher said, and the parenting classes may help Shaner be the role model she should be for Shaner’s 14-year-old daughter.
“You’re at a crossroads,” Christopher told Shaner. “You’ve got some choices to make. If you want to remain in a place that’s dark and scary, you’ve got lots of reason to justify that. But as much as you can work the excuses, it never helps you. Sometimes the quickest way out of that dark hole is helping others.”
According to court documents, on Dec. 5 Shaner was involved in a burglary in Ferndale.
Norma Lefthand Quaring, 52, Ronan, admitted violating conditions of parole. She admitted relapsing and using methamphetamine June 14 while on probation. The court revoked her three-year suspended sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs and sentenced her to three years in the DOC, none suspended, to be screened for an appropriate in-patient drug treatment program. Some charges were dismissed.
“You have a 25-year history with meth,” Christopher said to Quaring. “This is obviously a difficult monster to beat for you. Certainly treatment programs help, but they can’t do it until you want to and until you are willing to … It’s up to you.”
Jonathan Charles Devoe, 31, Alberton, per a plea agreement changed his plea to guilty to an amended charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, first offense, a misdemeanor. Devoe admitted he was driving intoxicated in Lake County on Oct. 21 with two children under the age of 16 in the car.
The court found him guilty and sentenced him to Lake County Jail for one year, all suspended but 10 days. He can serve his jail time in Mineral County at his own expense of $62.50 per day if he provides proof of incarceration to the state within 11 month of his sentencing date. He is no longer allowed to be the driver as his children are transported.
Because of the seriousness of the allegations, Christopher said she has reservations about the charge, which was amended from felony criminal child endangerment. Yet she went along with it because Devoe has taken steps to rehabilitate himself, including counseling sessions, parenting classes and Alcoholics Anonymous classes.
“Christmas came early for you. This is an incredible gift,” Christopher said of Devoe’s sentence. “Not only could you have taken out yourself, which is your problem, but you could have taken out those two kids and someone else. You could be standing here with a negligent homicide.”
David Boyed Vanbouchaute, per a plea agreement pleaded guilty to a lesser-included offense of trespass of property, a misdemeanor. Vanbouchaute admitted that on Oct. 26 he was hanging out with a friend, and both were significantly intoxicated. They got into a fight. Vanbouchaute broke a window to re-enter his friend’s home, and the friend stabbed him down his chest and under his arm.
“I should have been dead,” Vanbouchaute said, adding that he spent a week in the hospital.
Christopher noted that the affidavit is “somewhat confusing. Sounds like both of you could have ended up in court with charges. Alcohol will get you in trouble. I want make sure you don’t do this anymore.”
Vanbouchaute was found guilty of criminal trespass to property, a misdemeanor, and sentenced to Lake County Jail for six months, all suspended. Vanbouchaute agreed to stay away from victim’s residence and pay $400 restitution to the victim for a broken window.
The reason for the sentence is that Vanbouchaute was significantly injured in the fight, and the victim supports the plea agreement.
“You spent a week in the hospital as a result of injuries. That’s a punishment the court can’t impose, but I am taking it into account,” Judge Christopher said. “Either of you could have died in this set of circumstances. Make sure you make significantly better choices and find a way to get away from the alcohol.”
