Lake County District Court news for June 11, 2014
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Judge James A Manley dealt with the following cases Wednesday, June 4:
Robert Stokes, 30, Elmo, pleaded not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, a felony and burglary, a felony. Bail was set at $75,000, and a request for reduction in bail was denied.
An omnibus hearing is set for July 16 and a jury trial is set to begin Sept 2.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Jan. 6 incident where a woman told Polson Police that earlier in the evening, she had been pulled over and during a search of the vehicle, police found methamphetamine. She was arrested and released, then went home and slept. She told law enforcement that she was awakened by someone grabbing her arm and pulling her to her hand and knees. She felt something pressed against the back of her head. A male voice said, “What’s up?” She recognized it to be Robert Stokes, who was wearing a camoflauge cloth over his head and holding a gun to her head. She told him to get out of her house, and then the gun went off. Stokes ran out. She thought she had been shot, but when she realized the bullet had missed her, she ran to a neighbor's home and they called for help.
Polson officers and a tribal officer came to home and found a shell casing and a bullet hole in the heat register.
Paytra Starkel, 43, Tendoy, Idaho, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for July 16, with a trial date set to begin Sept 2.
According to court documents, charges stem from an April 27 incident where dispatch received a call from a man who said his wife had threatened him with a gun. While on the line, Starkel called to say she had fired a gun, but was only target practicing and he had overreacted. Dispatch then asked Starkel to meet the Sheriff’s Deputy at a location in Ronan. The deputy went to meet her, but when she did not arrive he continued on to the reporting party’s home to talk to him. The man said Starkel had come to his house to pick up some tires. They began arguing and she walked into the shop, got a nine-millimeter pistol, walked out of the shop and fired three rounds toward a target set up in the yard. The man said Starkel then turned and pointed the gun at him, threatening to kill him. He believed she was serious, and shouted at her to put the gun down. She walked past him and into the shop, so he ran in the house, locked the door and called 911.
According to court documents, Starkel later arrived at the Ronan location, and at the request of the Sheriff’s deputy that was interviewing the man, she met with a Polson police officer that interviewed her. Starkel confirmed the man’s story, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was arrested May 11 at her residence.
George Couture, Jr., 23, Pablo, in a change of plea admitted committing an amended offense of partner/family member assault, a misdemeanor. The Court found Couture guilty. He was sentenced to one year in Lake County Jail, all suspended. Couture was ordered to pay for and successfully complete an anger management program within 120 days of sentencing.
According to court documents, charges stem from a March incident where a man reported that Couture pounded on his door and entered, although he was told to leave. Couture then began to punch his sister in the face. She told officers she had tried to prevent Couture from leaving with a bottle of liquor that did not belong to him, and he had punched her twice in the face, knocking her to the ground on the second punch. Couture has two prior convictions for partner/family member assault.
Terry Alan Witman, 51, Charlo, in a change of plea, admitted committing the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The court found Witman guilty. Sentencing is set for July 9.
According to court documents, Witman was stopped on Highway 212, and told officers he had had four beers at a bar in Charlo.
He performed poorly standard sobriety tests. Witman was arrested and provided a breath sample that indicated his blood alcohol content was .147. Witman’s driving record showed at least three prior DUI convictions.
Antoine Eugene Tenas, 25, Big Arm, admitted some of the allegations of violating conditions of parole and probation had his suspended sentence revoked. He was sentenced to DOC for four years, none suspended. He was credited for 87 days served and recommended for a Connections Corrections treatment program.
Ronald Clarence Long, 58, Polson, was sentenced to DOC for 13 months for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The court recommended Long be placed in an appropriate alcohol treatment program. He was also sentenced to DOC for two years, all suspended, to run concurrently.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Sept. 6 incident where a Montana State Trooper responded to a report of a possible drunk driver who left Subway in Ronan and was heading north on Highway 93. Long was pulled over for violating a traffic violation, and the trooper found several open alcoholic beverages inside the vehicle. The trooper noticed an odor of alcohol on Long’s breath. Long said he had consumed three beers and was on several medications. The trooper noted that Long appeared confused, and had hard time maintaining his balance. Long refused sobriety tests and refused to give a breath sample. Long’s driving record showed at least three prior DUI convictions.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, June 5:
Rene Trevino, 26, Kalispell, admitted violating conditions of probation and was sentenced to DOC for five years for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court supported his placement in a drug treatment program.
Douglas Kenmille, 24, Elmo in a change of plea admitted committing an amended offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court found Kenmille guilty. Sentencing was set for July 17.
According to court documents, charges stem from a January 2012 incident where officers found methamphetamine pipes and a plastic bag of methamphetamine while searching on a warrant through tribal court.
Chaz Creemedicine, 21, Browning, pleaded not guilty to bail jumping, a felony. A $100,000 warrant was issued for his arrest after Creemedicine continued to be a no-show for sentencing on an August 2013 conviction, where Creemedicine, in a change of plea, admitted committing the offenses of criminal endangerment, a felony, and theft, a felony.
According to court documents, original charges stem from a May 2013 incident where Creemedicine drove a stolen Hyundai car in a high-speed chase with law enforcement from Missoula to north of St. Ignatius, where law enforcement disabled the car using stop strips and Creemedicine ended up in a ditch. Creemedicine drove north on Highway 93 in southbound lanes, forcing cars out of the road and nearly causing wrecks while driving at speeds up to 120 mph.
Gregory Olsen, 40, Charlo, pleaded not guilty to assault on minor, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 14 and a jury trial is set to being Sept. 22.
According to court documents, charges stem from May 16 incident where a woman reported that Olsen came and grabbed her 12-year-old son by the throat and said, “You better never talk to my daughter again.” The son had arrived home from a track meet and was in her yard with two siblings when Olsen allegedly grabbed the youth’s neck.
The son told officers that Olsen grabbed him by the throat and said, “I know what you said to my daughter.” The son told officers that Olsen appeared to be drunk.
When a Sheriff’s deputy visited Olsen at his home, Olsen said he told the son not to “talk trash” to his daughter. When asked if he put his hands on the boy, he replied, “don’t think so.”
