Lake County District Court news for March 6, 2013
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Feb. 27:
Delicia Morigeau, 36, St. Ignatius, in a change of plea, admitted to assault with a weapon and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies. She was found guilty, and sentencing was set for Wednesday, April 3, at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, the charges stem from a September 2012 incident where Morigeau allegedly hit a man with her car after the two had an argument about money. The man jumped to avoid going under the car, landed on the hood and slid into the windshield. Marks on the hood and indentations in the windshield were consistent with witness statements. In a search of Morigeau’s car, officers found several items of drug paraphernalia, marijuana, a suboxone pill, a hydromorphone pill, and a baggie containing methamphetamine.
Todd Burland, 45, Polson, in a change of plea, admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. He was found guilty and sentencing was set for Wednesday, April 3, at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, the charge stems from a November 2012 incident where Burland allegedly fled from police who were trying to stop his vehicle after he ran several stop signs. Burland drove down U.S. Highway 93 from downtown Polson and turned abruptly into Boettcher Park, over a traffic barricade, over a large log and over the breakwater into Flathead Lake. Burland emerged from his vehicle and began swimming away. Officers told him to swim to shore but he refused, saying he wouldn’t go to prison for five to 20 years for driving drunk. Police finally pulled Burland onto a rescue boat and took him to jail. Burland’s driving record shows he has eight prior DUI convictions.
Antoine Tenas, 24, Big Arm, had his Jan. 16, 2013, deferred sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, all suspended. Tenas received full credit for time served while in custody.
According to court documents, Tenas violated his probation by failing to meet with his probation officer as scheduled; possessing a 9-mm pistol in his vehicle; testing positive for methamphetamine and opiates; and consuming alcohol.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Feb. 28:
Cherish Meek Lachance, 33, Ronan, had her January 2012 suspended sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for two years, none suspended.
According to court documents, Lachance violated her probation by abusing alcohol and testing positive for marijuana use and opiates.
Norman Pulliam, 52, Kalispell, was sentenced to the Montana State Prison for five years, no time suspended, for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.
According to court documents, charges stem from a June 2012 incident where a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper saw a pickup truck cross Highway 93 on Mud Lake Trail without stopping. The officer activated his lights and siren and pursued the vehicle, but it did not immediately yield. When the truck pulled over, the officer saw the driver, Pulliam, hand something to the passenger, Damon Titchbourne. Pulliam did not have a driver’s license, proof of insurance or registration for his vehicle, and was behaving nervously. He was jumpy, displayed rapid speech and breathing, was extremely talkative and had small sores on his hands and wrists, all symptoms of methamphetamine use and intoxication. Titchbourne also had sores on his hands and wrists and was nervous. A check of their criminal records showed both men had multiple drug offenses. In a search of the vehicle, the officer found a glass methamphetamine pipe and a syringe loaded with 60 cc’s of clear liquid. A field test showed the liquid contained methamphetamine. Pulliam’s driving history showed three prior DUI convictions.
