Lake County District Court news for Jan. 9, 2013
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Jan. 2:
Lorena Couture, 42, Pablo, had her 2010 suspended sentence for criminal endangerment, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, no part of which is suspended.
According to court documents, Couture violated her probation by driving a vehicle on a suspended license with a blood alcohol concentration of .024 percent and testing positive for methamphetamine.
David Okland, 52, Polson, had his 2010 suspended sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, no part of which is suspended.
According to court documents, Okland violated his probation by driving on a suspended license with a blood alcohol concentration of .194 percent, and possessing alcohol in his home.
Steven Mikkelsen, 50, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. Then in a change of plea, Mikkelsen admitted to the charge. He was found guilty, and sentencing was set for Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, the charge stems from a Dec. 16, 2012, incident where Mikkelsen was stopped by a Ronan Police officer after driving through a stop sign. Mikkelsen did not immediately yield, but continued for several blocks before stopping in the middle of the traffic lane. As the officer pulled in behind Mikkelsen’s vehicle, he saw Mikkelsen jump into the back seat. The officer opened the door to talk to the driver, Mikkelsen, who was pretending to be asleep. Mikkelsen refused to identify himself or get out of the vehicle. His driving record shows at least four prior DUI convictions.
Gene Adams, 23, Ronan, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 13 months followed by two years suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony.
According to court documents, the charge stems from an August 2012 incident where a Polson Police officer responded to the report of someone passed out in his car in the McDonald’s drive-through. The driver, Adams, was sleeping; the engine was running and the vehicle was in drive with the keys in the ignition. Adams had passed out with one foot on the brake and one on the gas pedal. There was vomit on the back seat and unopened beers in the front passenger seat. After being transported to the Lake County Jail, a breath sample showed Adams had a blood alcohol concentration of .188 percent. His driving record showed he has at least three prior DUI convictions.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Jan. 3:
Keith Edmonson, 51, Polson, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon, a felony, and partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Feb. 28, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, April 8. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, the charges stem from a Dec. 15, 2012, incident where Edmonson allegedly beat his minor stepson with a belt for wetting the bed. The boy was taken to the hospital emergency room, where a physician told investigators that the boy had sustained kidney damage and had blood in his urine as well as severe bruising on his back, buttocks and legs. When Edmonson was shown photos of the boy’s injuries, he stated the injuries were consistent with “the whipping I gave him.”
Merle Jore, 73, Ronan, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, all suspended but 30 days in the Lake County Jail, for criminal endangerment, a felony. Jail time has been satisfied by the successful completion of inpatient treatment.
Richard Moulton II, date of birth unknown, Ronan, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 13 months plus two years suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony.
According to court documents, charges stem from a March 2012 incident where Moulton was pulled over in Pablo. The officer noted the smell of alcohol and several partially consumed alcoholic beverages in the vehicle. Moulton refused sobriety tests, and his driving record indicated three prior DUI convictions.
Bethany Caye, 29, Ronan, had sentencing deferred for three years for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. She must serve 60 days in the Lake County Jail within four months.
According to court documents, charges stem from a July 2012 incident where a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy initiated a traffic stop on Caye. She gave him permission to search her car, and he found syringes, drug paraphernalia, several types of prescription drugs, cooking materials and equipment for injecting drugs, a methamphetamine pipe and snort tubes. One of the drugs, clonazepam, was identified as a dangerous drug.
