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Articles with the Tag: Courts

Montana man arrested for assaulting law enforcement, other charges during Jan. 6 Capitol breach

News from U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON — A Montana man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including for assaulting law enforcement during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  His actions and the actions of others disrupted a jo...

State supreme court vacates local judge’s order, restores child custody to mother

HELENA — On Jan. 2, 2024, the Montana Supreme Court vacated a Sept. 19, 2023, Lake County District Court order made by Judge Deborah Kim Christopher that removed a five-year-old child from his mother and awarded full time custody for the next five years to his out-of-state father.  Shanna Sprin...

Two men charged with killing, selling eagles

FLATHEAD RESERVATION — Two men have been indicted on charges of killing some 3,600 federally-protected birds, including bald eagles, for profit.  According to court documents, Simon Paul and Travis John Branson are accused of killing and selling eagles on the black market between 2015 to 2021. ...

Court approves significant reforms for Lake County Jail

News from Upper Seven Law  MISSOULA — On Nov. 21, a federal court gave final approval to a settlement between the inmates of Lake County Jail and jail administrators. The jail agreed to several major changes, including adopting new policies and procedures and building both an outdoor recreati...

Montana Supreme Court says counties wrong on 95-mill tax issue Montana Supreme Court says counties wrong on 95-mill tax issue

The Montana Supreme Court Wednesday ruled against Montana county governments in a dispute over the Montana Department of Revenue’s authority to order the full collection of the 95-mill state-level school equalization levy, a formerly obscure piece of tax bills that became a flashpoint this fall as stat...

White pleads not guilty to charges related to death of Arlee woman White pleads not guilty to charges related to death of Arlee woman

POLSON — Sunny Kathrinne White pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide while under the influence (or alternatively – negligent homicide), accidents involving another person or deceased person, two counts of criminal child endangerment, and a count of criminal possession of dangerous d...

Montana Court blocks enforcement of ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth

News from ACLU Montana MISSOULA — A Montana state district court judge recently blocked enforcement of Senate Bill 99, the discriminatory law that threatens the health and well-being of Montana transgender youth by denying them access to the only evidence-based care for gender dysphoria. In his or...

Valley Views

The 2021 and 2023 sessions of Montana’s Legislature perpetrated a full-on war against Montana’s courts and judiciary. Dozens of anti-court/anti-judiciary bills were offered in these last two legislative sessions. The objective of these attacks? Demonize and marginalize Montana’s courts, ...

Man accused of murdering mother, concealing her body Man accused of murdering mother, concealing her body

POLSON — A Polson man is accused of stabbing his 86-year-old mother to death and then attempting to conceal her body in her home where her body remained for several days. Garrett Edward Vaska, 46, has been charged with deliberate homicide committed with a dangerous weapon and tampering with or fabri...

Ronan man admits to assault on peace officer Ronan man admits to assault on peace officer

A Ronan man admitted to assaulting a law enforcement officer and damaging a patrol car. Leroy Francis Toupe, 41, entered a plea of guilty to the amended charge of misdemeanor assault on a peace officer and felony criminal mischief at District Court in Polson on Sept. 7. The plea was entered as part of an agr...


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