Lake County District Court news for April 3, 2013
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, March 27:
Victor Morigeau, 54, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault on a peace officer; one count of assault with a weapon; and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense; all felonies. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, May 22, with a jury trial set to begin Monday, July 29. Both begin at 9 a.m. The court denied a request for lower bond; bond remains set at $50,000.
According to court documents, the charges stem from a Feb. 8 incident where a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy made a traffic stop after he saw a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign and speed through Ronan, traveling up to 65 miles per hour within city limits on Round Butte Road. The driver, Morigeau, also allegedly swerved over the white line on the right, over-corrected and crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic. Morigeau did not stop when the deputy turned on his lights and siren, and the deputy pursued the fleeing vehicle several miles down Rocky Butte Road before the fleeing driver turned into a field containing a domestic septic site. He drove around the field “accelerating wildly” for about 25 minutes, still refusing to stop. He then drove circles around the deputy while holding up his middle finger. A Ronan police officer arrived, bringing with him a civilian who was doing a “ride-along.” The two patrol cars managed to corner Morigeau in the field, and the Ronan officer got out of his vehicle. Morigeau drove directly at the officer, who scrambled back into his car and backed away, causing Morigeau’s vehicle to miss the patrol car by just a few inches. Morigeau continued trying to drive away, attempting to run over the sheriff’s deputy. The deputy shot four rounds into Morigeau’s tires, eventually stopping the car.
Morigeau appeared highly intoxicated and was disoriented, even falling asleep during his interview with officers. A warrant was obtained for his blood, but he refused to comply with the court order and had to be forcibly restrained for the blood draw.
Brandon Kyle Bagnell, 43, Missoula, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs; solicitation (criminal sale of dangerous drugs); assault with a weapon; and partner or family member assault, third offense; all felonies. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, May 29, with a jury trial set to begin Monday, Sept. 16. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, the charges stem from an August 2011 incident where Bagnell allegedly kicked and stabbed a woman who was a former lover. He was apparently trying to get the woman to sell methamphetamine for him. In a search of Bagnell’s vehicle, officers found several methamphetamine pipes and a syringe.
Andrew Adams, 23, Ronan, in a change of plea, admitted to the amended offense of theft, a misdemeanor. He was found guilty and sentenced to six months in the Lake County Jail, all but five days suspended. He must serve five days within 30 days of sentencing.
According to court documents, the charge stems from a September 2012 incident where Adams, an employee at The Pines assisted living home in St. Ignatius, found a ring belonging to a patient there in the trash. Adams told investigators he was aware the patient suffered from dementia and Alzheimer’s, but he kept the ring and pawned it in Ronan. The ring was valued at more than $1,500.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, March 28:
Jamie Dickson, 27, Elmo, had her March 2012 deferred sentence for theft, a felony, revoked and received a six-year deferred sentence.
According to court documents, Dickson violated her probation by failing to maintain employment; failing to report to her probation officer as scheduled; testing positive for marijuana, opiate and methamphetamine use; and failing to pay court-ordered fines, fees and restitution.
Jazmin Auld, 18, Elmo, had sentencing deferred for three years for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and was ordered to serve 20 days in the Lake County Jail. Auld has until June 1 to begin serving jail time.
According to court documents, charges stem from a September 2012 incident where Auld was driving a vehicle on Highway 93 and was stopped by a Ronan Police officer. The officer was advised by dispatch that none of the vehicle’s occupants had a valid driver’s license. He smelled burning marijuana coming from the vehicle and when a Flathead Police officer arrived, he also noticed the smell. The tribal officer asked the occupants if there was marijuana in the vehicle and was told “no.” He asked for permission to search the passengers, and while searching one of the passengers, Elijah Barnaby, the officer found eight pills later identified as hydrocodone in Barnaby’s pocket. Auld consented to a search of the vehicle and told the officer she didn’t know what he would find. During the search, the officer found another six hydrocodone pills in a cigarette packet in the driver’s seat, as well as marijuana and a pipe in a cargo pocket on the rear of the front seat. Auld admitted the pills on the front seat were hers and that she had sold several of them to Barnaby for $40.
Reba Hawkins, 25, St. Ignatius, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, two suspended, for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.
According to court documents, the charge stems from a July 2012 incident where a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper made a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hawkins. In a search of Hawkins’ purse, an officer found a pill crusher with white powdery residue on it, a glass stimulant pipe, a vinyl case containing two small plastic baggies with what appeared to be methamphetamine, several insufflation tubes, a razor blade and multiple other baggies. Hawkins appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant, and admitted she had smoked a quarter of a gram of methamphetamine, snorted a 7.5-milligram pill of Lortab, drank one Bud Light and smoke three “hits” of marijuana in the previous six hours. A blood sample was sent to the state crime lab for analysis.
