Articles with the Tag: Courts
LAKE COUNTY — This week a lawsuit was officially filed against the State of Montana by attorney Lance Jasper with the law firm Reep, Bell, and Jasper on behalf of Lake County for unfulfilled obligations of Public Law 280. Public Law 280 was passed by legislation in 1963, whereby the State of M...
POLSON — Molly Owen, Lake County’s new District Court judge, swore in new Lake County Attorney James Lapotka Thursday afternoon before a crowd of well-wishers. Lapotka ran unopposed for the post in the recent primary election, and replaces Steve Eschenbacher, who retired six months shy of the end...
POLSON — James Lapotka has been sworn in as the top prosecutor of Lake County. Former Lake County Attorney Steve Eschenbacher’s last day was June 30. Lapotka was sworn-in as the new Lake County Attorney that afternoon by District Judge Molly Owen. Also retiring this week was Barbara Mars...
POLSON — A Marion woman convicted of causing a fatal crash in a stolen car was sentenced at District Court in Polson on June 30 to a total of 18 years in the Montana State Women’s prison with 10 years suspended. Lease Sierra Moore, 19, entered a plea of guilty on April 7 to felony negligent homic...
MONTANA — Montana’s elected officials reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which had made abortion legal nationwide for nearly 50 years. The majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, written by Justice Samu...
POLSON — The imposition of sentencing was deferred for six years for a St. Ignatius woman after she entered an Alford plea to one count of felony exploitation of an older or disabled person. The sentence for Shara Darlene Hoskinson, 45, was handed down at District Court in Polson on June 23 by Judge Ka...
LAKE COUNTY — When Molly Owen takes her oath of office June 20, her appointment as judge for the 20th Judicial District represents a generational shift. At 35, she’ll be one of the youngest judges ever appointed to the bench in Montana – a career move she describes as humbling, challenging,...
POLSON — The imposition of sentencing for a Polson man caught with fentanyl hidden in his body was deferred for three years. Jimmy Justin Glass, 41, was given credit for time served of 146 days during his sentencing hearing at District Court in Polson on May 25. Glass was booked into the Lake County...
LAKE COUNTY — Judge Jim Manley’s next to last drug court was both raucous and poignant, a celebration and a farewell. It was also a testimonial to how the justice system, working in concert with a supportive community, can transform lives. Supreme Court Justice Ingrid Gustafson – a forme...
POLSON — A Polson man was sentenced at District Court in Polson on May 19 to a total of six years with the Montana Department of Corrections for violating conditions of parole by possessing drugs. Justin Duane Onesalt, 34, was also sentenced to 20 years with the Montana State Prison with 10 years suspe...
