Lake County District Court news for Aug. 29, 2012
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Aug. 22:
Michael T. Sanford, 33, Polson, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, Nov. 28, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, Jan 28. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, the charge stems from an Aug. 8 incident where a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle in which Sanford was a passenger. The driver was arrested on an unrelated charge, and Sanford consented to a search of his backpack. The officer found a M&M canister in Sanford’s backpack containing 20 tablets of acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate each marked with the imprint “Watson 385.” Based on his training, experience and research, the officer believed the pills were dangerous drugs. Sanford did not have a prescription for the pills, nor did his probation officer, and it is a condition of his probation that he must provide his probation officer with copies of his prescriptions.
Joshua Markovich, 22, Polson, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, all suspended, for attempt (burglary), a felony, and to the Lake County Jail for six months, all suspended, for assault, a misdemeanor. The sentences are to run concurrently.
According to court documents, charges stem from a June 7 incident where police responded to the report of an assault at Gardner Apartments in Ronan. Markovich had allegedly tried to enter an apartment where his girlfriend was, but the female resident of the apartment told him not to come in and held the door with her foot. Markovich struck the woman in the chest with his forearm while trying to force his way in the apartment. Markovich’s girlfriend told police that Markovich has hurt her and physically prevented her from leaving in the past, as well as destroying her cell phone to keep her from calling for help. She was pregnant and was afraid of what Markovich would do if he entered the apartment.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Aug. 23:
Jeremy Rice, 33, Polson, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, all suspended except 10 days in the Lake County Jail, for each of two counts of threats and improper influence in official and political matters, both felonies. The sentences are to run concurrently. He received credit for six days served and was given one week to report to the Lake County Jail to serve the remaining four days. Rice also apologized to the victims in the case.
According to court documents, charges stem from a March 31 incident where Polson Police responded to a disturbance at an apartment in Polson, where they found Rice, who appeared to be intoxicated. Rice repeatedly asked the officers to handcuff him and eventually became combative. He was arrested and on the way to the jail, slammed his head against the partition in the patrol car, cutting his forehead. Upon arrival at the jail, Rice spit blood on one officer’s face, spit on two more officers and told two officers that he was going to shoot them when he was released from jail. Rice explained in detail that he had sniper training, that he knew where one of the officers lived and that he could shoot the officer in the chest before the officer even knew Rice was around.
Ronald Goodsell, 32, Charlo, pleaded not guilty to failure to give notice of change of address by sexual or violent offender, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Sept. 27, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, Nov. 26. Both begin at 9 a.m. Bond was reduced from $20,000 to a $2,000 cash bond.
According to court documents, Goodsell is a tier 3 sex offender required to register as a sex offender. Goodsell allegedly changed his residence in Lake County and failed to give notice to the registration agency within three days. On July 31, a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy tried to locate Goodsell to verify his compliance with the sexual and violent offenders registry. At Goodsell’s registered address, the property owner told the officer that Goodsell had moved on July 21. He had not informed his probation officer of the move.
Bruce Bierman, 54, Helena, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Sept. 27, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, Nov. 26. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, the charge stems from an Aug. 11 incident where Bierman was driving a vehicle across the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge in Polson around 2:42 p.m. The vehicle nearly collided with the guardrail and crossed the center line on the bridge several times. A Polson Police officer stopped Bierman and found he had an open can of Schlitz High Gravity malt liquor and smelled strongly of alcohol. After Bierman performed poorly on a field sobriety test, he was taken to the Lake County Jail, where a breath sample showed he had a blood alcohol concentration of .31 percent. Records indicate Bierman has at least three previous DUI convictions, including one prior felony DUI, for which he was placed in an inpatient alcohol treatment program.
Daniel Ray Hill, 44, Bigfork, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for four years, all suspended but 30 days in an inpatient chemical dependency program, and was ordered to wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet for six months following treatment, for the amended offense of criminal endangerment, a felony.
According to court documents, charges stem from an October 2011 incident where a U.S. Forest Ranger stopped a pickup truck to check for hunting licenses on Crane Mountain Road in Lake County. The driver, Hill, appeared to be intoxicated and the ranger noticed a half empty bottle of whiskey in the vehicle. A breath sample later showed Hill had a .215 blood alcohol concentration, and Hill’s driving record showed he had at least three prior DUI convictions.
