Lake County District Court news for July 25, 2012
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, July 18:
Tiffany Cutfinger, 22, Pablo, had her 2010 deferred sentence for deceptive practices, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for seven years, four suspended. She will receive full credit for time served while in custody.
According to court documents, Cutfinger violated her probation by failing to seek and maintain employment; failing to report to her probation officer as ordered; failing to comply with laws; testing positive for methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana use; failing to pay court-ordered fines, fees and restitution; and failing to comply with chemical dependency counseling.
Ron Rorvik, 53, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, Sept. 12, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, Oct. 29. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a June 26 incident where Rorvik allegedly pushed his wife by the head, causing her to fall to the ground and injure her shoulder. The woman was diagnosed with a broken shoulder at St. Joseph’s Medical Center.
Chase Kuntz, 20, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to arson, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, Sept. 12, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, Oct. 29. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a June 5 incident where Kuntz allegedly purposely burned down a cabin in St. Ignatius. Kuntz’s pickup truck was located near the scene of the fire, and he confessed in an interview that he stopped by the log cabin, grabbed some paper from his truck, lit it on fire and threw the paper inside the cabin. Kuntz said he wanted to burn down the building and destroy the structure so no one could set up a meth lab in it.
Michael Bettencourt, 34, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to threats and other improper influence in official and political matters, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, Sept. 12, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, Dec. 3. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a June 28 incident where Bettencourt was arrested for obstructing a peace officer. On the way to the Lake County Jail, Bettencourt allegedly unleashed a 20-minute tirade at the arresting officer, threatening to beat him, kill him and take him to court, saying the officer would lose his job.
Marcus Padilla, 28, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon, a felony; aggravated assault, a felony; partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor; and unlawful restraint, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, Sept. 12, and a jury trial set to begin Monday, Dec. 3. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a June 27 incident where a woman named Niki reported that she received a phone call from her friend, who was in a relationship and has three children with Padilla. Padilla’s girlfriend asked Niki to pick her up from the couple’s home. When Niki arrived, she saw Padilla grab his girlfriend by the neck and drag her back into the house. Padilla then allegedly came out of the house and threatened Niki with a fixed-blade hunting knife, ordering her to leave. When officers arrived at the house, they found Padilla’s girlfriend unresponsive lying on a bed. Padilla said at some point that evening, she had lost consciousness. She had bruising on her chin, scraped marks on her neck and throat area,and a broken lip piercing, and did not remember seeing Niki or arguing with Padilla that night. Loss of consciousness, memory and other cognitive functions are all consistent with oxygen deprivation as a result of manual strangulation significant enough to create a substantial risk of death or serious and mental impairment.
Byron Tenas, 27, Big Arm, had his 2010 suspended sentence for sexual intercourse without consent, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 15 years, five suspended.
According to court documents, Tenas violated his probation by failing to seek and maintain employment; testing positive for marijuana use, methamphetamine and oxycodone; failing to enter and complete chemical dependency counseling and sexual offender counseling; and associating with an individual engaged in illegal activity.
Brian Mitchell, 23, St. Ignatius, had his 2010 deferred sentence for custodial interference, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 10 years, five suspended.
According to court documents, Mitchell violated his probation by failing to report to his probation officer as directed; being charged with a misdemeanor; testing positive for marijuana and alcohol use; failing to pay court-ordered fines and fees; and failing to enter and complete chemical dependency counseling and mental health counseling.
Alan Kibler, 26, St. Ignatius, had his 2011 deferred sentences for partner or family member assault, third offense, a felony, and criminal endangerment, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years, none suspended, on the first count, and five years, three suspended, on the second count, for a total commitment of eight years, three suspended.
According to court documents, Kibler violated his probation by failing to maintain employment; failing to report to his probation officer as ordered; testing positive for marijuana and alcohol use; failing to pay court-ordered fines and fees; and failing to complete chemical dependency counseling.
