Lake County District Court news for Mar. 23, 2011
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Judge C. B. McNeil dealt with the following cases on March 16:
Richard Allen Downing, III, 19, Arlee, received a six year deferred sentence. As part of the plea agreement, Downing pleaded guilty to theft, a felony, and fleeing from or eluding a peace officer, a misdemeanor.
According to court documents, the charges stem from a September 10 incident where an idling Chevrolet Suburban had been taken from in front of a home in Polson. After locating the missing vehicle, an officer attempted to stop but the driver continued southbound on Highway 93, reaching speeds of up to 95 mph. A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy used “stop sticks” to puncture the tires. Shortly after the tires deflated, the driver attempted to turn off the highway, lost control of the vehicle and crashed. He then attempted to flee on foot. When the driver was apprehended, he was identified as Richard Downing. Downing remains at liberty.
Savonnah S. Ryan, 23, Big Arm, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for May 11 at 9 a.m.
According to court records on Feb. 16, Flathead Tribal Police arrested Ryan on outstanding warrants. Allegedly Ryan admitted to the Montana Highway Patrol trooper transporting her to Lake County Jail that she had methamphetamine in her shoe. Ryan handed the trooper a plastic Ziploc bag containing a white crystalline substance. The Ziploc bag had green $ signs on, and similar bags had been found in the vehicle Ryan was in prior to her arrest.
Adam Hefner, 25, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to assaulting on a peace officer or judicial officer, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for April 13 at 9 a.m.
The charge stems from incidents on Feb. 10. Allegedly Hefner pushed a victim down, causing her to hit her head. On the same date a Montana probation and patrol officer requested officer assistance in locating and apprehending Hefner for his failure to comply with the terms of his probation and parole. Tribal officers were tipped that Hefner was going to his grandmother’s house. When they tried to restrain Hefner, he pushed one of the officers off the porch. The officer landed on a metal object and lacerated his hand.
Kenneth Camel, 54, Polson, admitted committing the amended offense of criminal endangerment, a felony. The Court made its findings, accepted the plea and found Camel guilty of the charge. Sentencing was set for April 20 at 9 a.m.
On Oct. 19, 2010, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling north of Ronan on Highway 93 when he noticed a vehicle driving 20 to 25 miles slower than the posted speed limit.
According to court documents the deputy watched the vehicle, driven by Camel, drifting back and forth from the centerline to the fog line. When the deputy stopped Camel’s vehicle, he observed that Camel’s eyes were red and glassy, and he smelled of an alcoholic beverage. Dispatch informed the deputy that Camel had three prior DUI’s. The deputy asked Camel to perform an HGN test, and the results indicated Camel was impaired. The deputy also had Camel take a preliminary breath test, resulting in a BAC of .104. Another breath test at LCJ resulted in a BAC of .093. Camel also performed the HGN, walk and turn and one-leg sobriety tests. They indicated he was under the influence of alcohol. Camel admitted drinking alcohol but stated he was not under the influence of alcohol or he would have taken the back roads.
• Tillian J. Gonzales, 27, Wapato, Wash., admitted committing the amended offense of theft, a misdemeanor. The Court made its findings, accepted the plea and found Gonzales guilty of the charge. The Court deferred imposition of sentence for one year.
According to court records, charges stem from a July 4 incident where Gonzales was allegedly selling pirates DVDs at the Arlee Powwow. A tribal police officer, not in uniform, approached Gonzales and asked him what kind of movies he had for sale, so Gonzales showed him a list of movies that included DVDs not currently released for sale. When asked why Gonzales did not have a booth like the other vendors, he said a tribal officer previously told him to stop selling the DVDs, but Gonzales had just moved to a different location and continued his sales.
The officer purchased a copy of “Bounty Hunter” for $10.
Officers later stopped him as he was leaving the powwow grounds. After Gonzales opened his backpack to show them the movies, officers arrested him and seized the DVDs and $380 in proceeds that were in Gonzales’ backpack. After obtaining permission to search Gonzales’ vehicle, officers found 130 more copied DVDs, $1,100 in cash, a DVD duplicator, 50 blank DVDs, 100 blank DVD sleeves, and posters of movie titles and a laptop computer. The officer checked ten random DVDs and all but one were functioning pirated copies of commercial movies.
Tashina Carpenter, 21, St. Ignatius, pleaded no contest and admitted committing aggravated assault, a felony. The Court made its findings, accepted the plea and found Carpenter guilty of the charge. Sentencing was set for April 20 at 9 a.m.
Tammie Jo Guardipee, 51, Dayton, admitted committing the amended offenses of criminal endangerment, three charges, felonies. Sentencing was set for April 20 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, charges stem from an October incident where two males were scuffling on the ground in a parking lot of a Dayton bar. Guardipee allegedly pointed a gun at one of the men, who shoved her into a wall to disarm her. Prior to disarming Guardipee, witnesses said Guardipee was pointing the gun — which was loaded with 10 rounds — at several different people, including the bartender. The bartender tried to get the gun away from Guardipee, but she shoved the gun into his ribs and scratched his neck. At least three people said they were afraid they would be shot.
Angela L. Morrow, 48, Ronan, was committed to the Department of Corrections for three years for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The Court recommended Morrow be considered for placement in Passages, an alcohol treatment program.
According to court records, on April 17 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Morrow was observed leaving Arnie’s Gas and Tire in Ronan and appeared to be having difficultly walking to her vehicle. A Tribal Police Officer followed and observed her drive over the curb while turning onto U.S. Highway 93. Morrow then turned onto Main Street SE, and she began driving on the wrong side of the road, at which time the tribal officer stopped her.
A Ronan Police Officer was called to respond to the scene and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Morrow’s breath. Also there were 16- and 20-ounce beer cans in the passenger seat. A breath test registered a BAC of .179. At the Lake County Jail, Morrow continued to fail a number of sobriety tests. A records check indicated her license was suspended and she was previously convicted of driving while license is suspended, revoked or cancelled in a municipal court in Wyoming. Morrow’s court driving history also shows that she has had at least three prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following case on March 27:
Madeline Weaselhead, 45, Pablo, was committed to the Department of Corrections for 13 months for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony. In addition she was committed to the DOC for two years with all time suspended.
According to court documents, charges stem from a July 2010 incident where Montana State Trooper responded to a single-vehicle rollover on Carbine Road. Witnesses who arrived after the crash said the driver, Weaselhead, appeared intoxicated. The trooper observed three cans of Natural Ice lying in or around the vehicle, and noticed the interior of the vehicle smelled strongly of alcohol. Weaselhead was taken to the hospital and after obtaining Weaselhead’s medical records from the crash, they showed that her blood alcohol content was .160 percent. Her driving record showed three prior Driving Under the Influence and Blood Alcohol Concentration convictions.
