Lake County District Court news for July 31, 2013
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following case Wednesday, July 24:
Edward Irvine, 55, Ronan, admitted violating terms of probation and parole and had his deferred sentence revoked for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years with no part suspended. According to court documents, charges stem from a November 2012 incident where officers found methamphetamine in Irvine’s possession during a traffic stop. Irvine was sentenced in April 2013, but failed to maintain employment, and in July 11 was found in possession of methamphetamine, both violations of parole.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, July 25:
Bruce Plouffe, 49, Ronan, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years with no part suspended for operation of noncommercial vehicle by person with alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more, a felony. The court recommends Plouffe be considered for in-patient treatment at Connection Corrections, followed by pre-release.
According to court documents, Plouffe had his deferred sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol revoked on July 11. Plouffe was arrested for drinking beer in his front yard and for failing to appear in court, both violations of his probation and parole.
Wayne Grant Twoteeth, 45, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony.
An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, Aug. 29 and a jury trial is set to begin Monday, Oct. 21. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a July 13 incident where a Montana State Trooper was fueling his vehicle in Ronan when a patron pointed out a vehicle that nearly hit her car. She said the driver appeared drunk. The driver, Twoteeth, then entered the vehicle and when he drove off, the officer pulled him over.
Twoteeth allegedly told the officer that he had 17 previous DUIs. Twoteeth’s driving record showed 9 prior convictions, and previous placement in a residential alcohol treatment facility.
Lucretia McLeod, 19, Arlee, in a change of plea admitted committing the offense of criminal mischief, a felony. The court accepted the plea and found McLeod guilty.
Sentencing is set for Thursday, Aug. 29 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a March 11 incident where a tribal officer responded to a report of shots fired in St. Ignatius. The shots were fired at a white suburban in front of the home of McLeod’s ex-boyfriend. Although McLeod could not get either of two guns to fire, another person in the vehicle discharged the firearms toward the vehicle. McLeod was subsequently charged by accountability.
Cecilia Basilio, 36, Polson in a change of plea admitted committing forgery, a felony. The court accepted the plea and found Basilio guilty. Sentencing is set for Thursday, Sept. 5 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a May 2012 incident where Basilio was attempting to use forged checks at a Polson business.
James L. McDonald, 53, Dixon, in a change of plea admitted committing theft, a felony. The court accepted the plea and found McDonald guilty.
Sentencing is set for Thursday, Aug. 29 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a September 2012 incident where a woman inadvertently put McDonald’s account number on the deposit slip, sending two checks totaling $15,000 into McDonald’s account at the same local bank where she has an account. When she realized the mistake, she told McDonald, a relative, what happened and said not to spend it.
But within days only $3,000 was left, and McDonald told the woman he had spent it. The woman told police McDonald had spent the money on a truck for himself and a car for his girlfriend.
Ashley Sorells, 27, Ronan, in a change of plea admitted committing vehicular homicide under the influence, a felony. The court accepted her plea and sentenced Sorells to the Department of Corrections for 15 years with 10 suspended.
According to court documents, charges stem from a September 2012 incident involving a two-vehicle fatal crash near Arlee. Officers arrived on scene and found a Nissan Maxima with rear end damage and a truck on its side with a deceased man pinned under the truck. According to documents, the driver of the Nissan had flashed her headlights to flag down the truck, because it had been swerving all over the road. The man’s son had been driving, and the Nissan driver offered to help get them home. So Sorells, a passenger in the Nissan, drove the truck and his son rode in the Nissan.
As Sorells followed the Nissan, it stopped partly in the road because the driver had missed the turn. Sorells struck the Nissan from behind, causing her to lose control of the truck, and it rolled into a ditch. Sorells was ejected from the truck and the male passenger was pinned under the vehicle and died at the scene. After Sorells was taken to the hospital with injuries, her blood was drawn and it revealed THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Also, Sorell’s BAC was .18 percent.
