Lake County District Court news for Oct. 2, 2013
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Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases on Thursday, Sept. 26:
Nadine Bruce, 70, homeless, pleaded not guilty to a charge of burglary, a felony. The charges stem from a Sept. 20 incident where Bruce violated a protection order issued against her on July 31, according to court documents. A Polson police officer found Bruce hiding in the bathroom of a home she was ordered to not be within 500 feet of. Bruce told the officers she knew she was not allowed at the house, but had nowhere else to go. The state requested that Bruce’s bond be increased from $5,000 to $50,000 because she had previously been released from Lake County Jail after being charged with stalking and, according to court documents “made it clear she will not abide by the restrictions in the order of protection or the bond conditions set by the Justice of the Peace.”
The increase in bail was granted.
An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
A jury trial is set for Monday, Dec. 16 at 9 a.m.
Reece McLeod, 32, of St. Ignatius was sentenced to Lake County Jail for six months with all suspended, except time served. McLeod was fined $500 and paid $383 in restitution. McLeod has to comply with conditions of release and may petition for an early release. McLeod will receive credit for all time in custody. In the event he is revoked, he will not receive credit for time spent on probation while not in custody.
The sentence resulted from a felony charge of criminal mischief made after McLeod broke the windows of an Arlee residence on Sept. 2, while extremely intoxicated, according to court documents. A witness told investigators that McLeod was asked to leave the residence when he became drunk and disorderly. McLeod refused and was pushed out of the front door by people at the residence. McLeod became angry and then punched out the window. He attempted to reenter the residence through the window frame, before running away. A sheriff’s deputy who arrived on the scene was told McLeod had entered a residence and had passed out from blood loss. McLeod entered the residence and found a front picture window that was completely destroyed and approximately a half pint of blood on the stairway outside the front door. The deputy found McLeod dazed and intoxicated, and took him outside for medical attention. McLeod had several lacerations to his hand and arms but the bleeding slowed.
Casey William Plant, 25, of Big Arm, was found guilty of forgery, a felony. A previous suspended sentence related to 2009 conviction of criminal possession with intent to distribute and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence was revoked. Sentencing is set for Thursday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 p.m.
The conviction stems from an April 8 event where a woman reported her checkbook stolen to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, according to court documents. Copies of eight checks written across the state, as well as checks written locally to Polson Bay Grocery, Napa Auto in Polson, Pizza Hut, Safeway, Dyno Mart, Stageline Pizza, and Grogan’s Car Wash. Detectives interviewed another woman the victim believed had stolen the checkbook. The woman admitted to the crime and said she had bought merchandise in Polson and returned it in Missoula for cash. The woman said Plant issued some of the checks.
Plant admitted to cashing checks and buying gas and cigarettes at Cenex in Ronan and Safeway. He also bought parts at Napa Auto. He admitted to returning merchandise for cash in order to buy drugs and stay at hotels. Plant said he did not have permission to use the checks.
Trevor Gardipe, 17, pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary, a felony, count I; criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a misdemeanor, count II; and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, count III.
According to court documents, Gardipe stole several items from the Pieceful Place Smoke Shop in Polson on Aug. 31, by removing the air conditioner. A witness reported two individuals running from the building with armfuls full of stuff, and recognized Gardipe.
On Sept. 8 a youth admitted to Polson Police that he was with Gardipe the night of the burglary. The youth told police that Gardipe and another youth told him to wait at a house while the pair robbed the store. The thieves returned with a basket full of pipes, bongs, an Xbox and drinks, the informant told police. The Star Wars XBox 360 identified by the informant was found when police visited Gardipe’s home. The informant told police that Gardipe sold most of the stolen pipes, but there were still some pipes at Gardipe’s house including a bong about two feet tall, made of clear glass with black or gray lettering and another pipe that was a foot long, red and blue and color, with water in the bottom.
The informant said the thieves stole a half-full sandwich bag of marijuana from the business. The informant and Gardipe smoked some of the marijuana, but some of it was also believed to have been sold.
The thieves went back to the store to steal more items, but saw a Polson Police officer and ran away when she saw them.
On Sept. 10, Polson Police officers and Drug Task Force Agents found the Star Wars XBox 360 and drug paraphernalia matching the informant’s description. They also found a glass marijuana pipe with marijuana residue. Officers also found a marijuana bong, and a metal spoon with a burn mark.
In an upstairs bedroom, officers found a light bulb on a bed with a metal end removed and a white plastic straw. The bulb contained methamphetamine residue.
An omnibus hearing is set for Monday, Dec. 16 at 9 a.m.
A jury trial is set for Thursday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Phillip James Pierre, 52, of Polson, pleaded not guilty to the charge of failure to give notice of change of address by sexual or violent offender, a felony. The charge resulted from Sheriff’s deputies not being able to located Pierre at a Ronan address he registered with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department on June 5, court documents allege. Pierre’s mother told a deputy that Pierre no longer lived at the address. Pierre was arrested on an outstanding warrant and deputies discovered he had been living in Polson for several months.
An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Jon Lozeau, 25, of Ronan, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 10 years, with five suspended. The court recommended the Lozeau be screened for placement in a substance abuse program.
The sentence resulted from revocation of probation for conviction of assault on a peace officer in 2011. Court documents allege Lozeau violated parole by not reporting a change of address, after he was evicted from his previous residence because he assaulted his uncle.
He also did not attend job service classes or report to his probation officer as required.
Victor Demery, 28, of Polson, was sentenced to four years at the Department of Corrections, with all suspended, except time served.
A warrant for Demery’s arrest was ordered.
Demery pled guilty on July 3 to failure to give notice of change of address by violent offender, a felony.
