Lake County District Court news for Sept. 2, 2010
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Judge C.B. McNeil handled the following cases on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010:
John E. Steele, 18, of Pablo, pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. Steele remains in custody after being arrested Aug. 13, 2010 for violating conditions of bond. An omnibus hearing was held Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010.
According to court records, on or about May 15, 2010, a Flathead Tribal police officer arrived at the scene of a reported fight between a male and female at Project 30 in Pablo. Upon arrival, the officer discovered the couple yelling at each other and noticed Steele pushing a woman into a residence. A subsequent investigation allegedly revealed Steele inside a closet in the house.
It was later discovered that Steele was in possession of hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance, not the over-the-counter Aleve as the bottle indicated.
Fredrick Tapia, 63, of Pablo, pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010.
According to court records, on or about Aug. 2, 2010, a Flathead Tribal officer was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 93 when he recognized the driver of a blue Subaru as Fred Tapia. Upon further investigation, the officer learned that Tapia’s driving privileges had been revoked.
According to court records, the officer followed Tapia into the North Wood Trailer Park and activated his overhead lights but Tapia allegedly ignored them. Once Tapia exited the vehicle he was driving, the officer smelled alcohol coming from him. As this would be Tapia’s fifth DUI charge, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was notified.
While issuing standard field sobriety tests, officers observed impairment on the part of Tapia.
Joseph J. Merola, 56, of LLano, Calif., pleaded not guilty to the charges of assault with a weapon, a felony, and tampering with witnesses and informants, a felony.
An omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010.
According to court records, on July 24, 2010, Polson police went to Swanee’s Bar to conduct a bar check. When officers arrived, they were approached by Cody Alt, who said that a man had just threatened him with a gun. He said the man was headed southbound on a motorcycle just north of the Polson bridge.
Police identified the sole rider of the motorcycle as Merola. When officers asked Merola where the gun was, he replied that he did not have a gun.
After noticing that Merola was wearing a holster and upon further investigation, officers discovered a “Glock 27” handgun concealed in the grass under the motorcycle. After Merola was arrested, Alt told officers he had been approached in a confrontational manner by Merola, who allegedly punched him in the face. It was after Merola allegedly fled on his motorcycle that Alt flagged down police.
The following cases were handled by Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on August 19, 2010:
Billie Anne Salois, 29, of Ronan, was sentenced to three years for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, with credit for time served.
According to court records, charges stem from a July 14, 2003 incident. Salois was found in possession of a used hypodermic syringe commonly used to inject methamphetamine.
Kiel J. Orr, 27, of St. Ignatius, was sentenced to five-years, all suspended, for a previously deferred charge of theft, a felony, and to 15 years for driving under the influence of alcohol, with 10 years suspended.
According to court records, charges stem from a Jan. 16, 2010 incident when Orr was arrested for driving under the influence. A “PBT” alcohol test and three field sobriety tests administered indicated that Orr was under the influence of alcohol.
Ghlee Blickenstaff, 22, of Polson, was sentenced to 15 days in Lake County Jail for criminal endangerment, a felony, with an additional 15 days for the offense of partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor. Of the total 30-day sentenced jail time, 15 days may be served on house arrest.
Martin C. Sanders, 52, of Polson, was sentenced to 10 years in the Department of Corrections, with all time suspended for the charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony. Sentenced time is to run consecutive with a Sanders County DUI sentence. He was also fined $700l. Sanders will receive credit for time served of 49 days and for successfully completing the Narconon Program for a total of 286 days credit.
According to court records, Sanders changed his plea to guilty and was found guilty of felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and according to the plea agreement, was required complete a Narconon Program in Colorado and then committed to the DOC for 10 years with all of that time suspended.
According to court records, the charge stems from a Feb. 17, 2008 incident when an informant contacted an agent from the Northwest Drug Task Force about the possibility of purchasing marijuana from Sanders.
The agent then searched the informant and his vehicle for drugs, placed a concealed transmitter on the informant and followed him to Ravalli.
The agent observed the informant park next to a vehicle and then enter that vehicle. Following the monitored conversation, the informant made the purchase and some time later, met with the agent and gave him a bag that appeared to be marijuana and stated that it was exchanged from Sanders for $200.
The purported marijuana was sent to the crime lab in Missoula and after testing, was confirmed to be marijuana containing tetrahydrocannabinol.
Vincent A. Gladue, 35, of Ronan, was sentenced to eight-years, with five suspended, for a previously suspended sentence of assault with a weapon, a felony, after violating conditions of the previously suspended sentence. It was also recommended that Gladue be considered for the alcohol treatment program.
According to court records, on Nov. 26, 2005, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were called to St. Luke Hospital in Ronan after two men came to the hospital with stab wounds. Officers spoke to the two men, Chad Hendrickson and Pat Lozeau. The two had each been cut or stabbed.
At first, the two did not cooperate with law enforcement officers. Eventually, however, they said Hendrickson was fighting with Gladue and another man name Rick. Lozeau attempted to help Hendrickson but later realized he had been stabbed.
Lozeau told deputies the fight happened in a residence in Pablo, and described where he thought the weapon would be located. Officers found the knife, a fixed blade knife with a bent tip and blood on the blade.
