Lake County District Court news for May 11, 2011
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Judge C. B. McNeil dealt with the following cases on May 4:
Isaac Henry Cordova, 26, Ronan, on or about Aug. 26, 2010, pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, both felonies.
Valerie J. Plant, 41, Pablo, admitted driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony. The Court made its finding, accepted the plea and found Plant guilty of the charge. Sentencing is set for June 8.
Charges stem from an incident on June 1, 2010. A Flathead Tribal police officer stopped a vehicle driven by Plant on Hwy. 93. The officer smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage and noted Plant’s eyes were bloodshot and her speech was slurred.
Plant admitted she drank a few beers in Pablo, and her performance on sobriety exercises indicated her ability to drive was impaired. Plant also had three prior DUI convictions so a Lake County sheriff’s deputy took over the investigation. While the deputy was removing Plant from the holding cell to take her to the tribal jail, a glass pipe of the type normally used to smoke methamphetamine fell out of Plant’s pocket. She admitted the pipe was used to smoke methamphetamine.
Justin James Jennings, 39, Bigfork, was committed to the Department of Corrections for 15 years with none suspended for violating his probation and parole for mitigated deliberate homicide. Jennings admitted one violation, that on April 4, he was consuming alcohol and had a BAC of .248.
The Court concurred with the recommendation of Connections Corrections, an alcohol and drug treatment center.
Everardo Bravo, 43, St. Ignatius, admitting criminal possession with intent to distribute, a felony.
The Court made its findings, accepted the plea and found Bravo guilty. Bravo was committed to the Department of Corrections of 10 years with eight years suspended. Bravo will receive credit for the 336 days he has served, and he will be deported.
Roy Shostak, Jr., 41, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, 4th or subsequent offense, a felony, criminal endangerment, a felony, habitual traffic offender operating a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and exceeding restricted/special zone speed limit, a misdemeanor.
A Ronan Police Office stopped Shostak on April 1 when the vehicle he was driving allegedly swerved across the center line and accelerated to 40 mph in a 25 mph zone on Round Butte Road. Shostak got out of his vehicle and approached the officer. The officer said he was acting nervously and seemed impaired. Shostak asked the officer to take him to jail since he didn’t have a driver’s license. The officer could smell the odor of alcohol, and Shostak said he had consumed three beers. According to court records, Shostak performed field sobriety maneuvers and there and at the Lake County Jail, where he scored three out of four clues of impairment.
Shostak’s girl friend was in the vehicle and also intoxicated. Shostak’s 3-year-old son was in his booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. A review of Shostak’s driving history revealed three prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and Shostak was declared a habitual traffic offender on April 9, 2008.
An omnibus hearing was set for Wed., July 13, at 9 a.m. and jury trial for Mon., Sept. 19 at 9 a.m.
Thomas Mitchell, 42, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, 4th or subsequent offense, a felony, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance, a misdemeanor, and open container, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Wed., July 13 at 9 a.m.
On March 30, a tribal officer stopped the vehicle Mitchell was driving after a witness said the man and woman inside the vehicle were fighting. The officer noticed the vehicle did not have its headlights on.
When the officer approached the vehicle, he could smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Mitchell, whose eyes were bloodshot and glossy and whose speech was slurred. Allegedly there was an open container of alcohol in the center console. Tribal dispatch informed the officer Mitchell had three previous DUI convictions. Mitchell attempted sobriety tests but refused to do the walk and turn test and refused to provide a preliminary breath sample. At the Lake County Detention Center, Mitchell displayed six out of six possible clues for impairment.
Amber Lynn Roundine, 33, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.
Charges stem from a Jan. 12 arrest for shoplifting. During booking at the tribal jail, a detention officer allegedly found a lortab pill in Roundine’s possession.
An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 10.
Harold D. Mitchell, Jr. 27, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a felony.
Charges stem from an alleged purchase of methamphetamine on June 1, 2010.
An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, June 15.
