Lake County District Court news for Jan. 25, 2017
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Judge James A. Manley sentenced the following people on Wednesday, Jan. 18:
Carl Wallace Kirkedahl, 55, received a four-year suspended sentence for an amended charge of criminal endangerment. He was originally charged with driving under the influence and had four prior convictions, according to court records. Kirkedahl, who said he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1980-88, recently completed a six-week chemical dependency program at Fort Harrison near Helena. Judge Manley counted those 42 days as time served.
Lisa G. Wimett, 60, received a three-year deferred sentence for an amended charge of criminal endangerment. She was originally charged with driving under the influence and had three prior convictions, according to court records. Wimett thanked the judge. “I’m sorry for the poor decisions I’ve made,” she said.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher sentenced the following people Thursday, Jan. 19:
Jeffrey Douglas Freeman Jr., 32, Pablo, per a plea agreement had his sentence for felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs deferred for three years, plus 24 days already served, for which he was credited.
Christopher said Freeman has 18 driving offenses in less than 10 years, “lots of which indicated you were suspended, revoked, or out of insurance.” The plea dismisses those without prejudice, “which means they could come back to haunt you. If you get more tickets, the benefit of the deferred sentence is gone.”
According to court documents, on May 22 a detention officer found a baggie with meth residue in Freeman’s pocket after he had been arrested for trespassing at a casino in Polson.
Rick Gerald Sorrell, 50, Bozeman, was sentenced per a plea agreement to the DOC five years for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.
“My hopes are that perhaps the treatment this time will give him some ability to get a handle on his chemical dependency,” Judge Christopher said.
According to court documents, on July 3 Sorrell was arrested for having methamphetamine in his possession as he attempted to enter the powwow grounds in Arlee.
Dakota Vanmeter-Burke, 22, Polson, had his sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs deferred for two years.
Christopher said the deferred sentence gives Vanmeter-Burke “one more bite at the apple before things get really serious.”
Vanmeter-Burke apologized, saying “I was young and stupid, you could say.”
If he comes back to court, Judge Christopher said he could be sentenced to Montana State Prison.
“I would suggest you spend more time with your family members and a lot less time doing what you have been doing,” Christopher told him. “Almost everybody that has dealt with you thinks you have great potential if you can get away from (the drugs).”
