Lake County District Court news for Jan. 11, 2012
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Dec. 28:
Cheyenne Morton, 21, Polson, had his 2010 deferred sentence for burglary, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, all suspended. He will receive credit for time spent in custody. Morton is also to undergo a mental health evaluation, start it within 90 days, and complete his GED within six months. According to court documents, Morton failed to complete boot camp as ordered by the court.
Mark Ardis, 21, Polson, pleaded not guilty to deceptive practices, common scheme, a felony. Ardis remains at liberty. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, Feb. 1, and a jury trial was set to begin Monday, April 16. Both begin at 9 a.m. According to court documents, charges stem from incidences in September 2011 when Ardis used a credit card from the Tribal Fatherhood Program to purchase gasoline from the Polson Town Pump on seven separate occasions for his personal vehicle and vehicles belonging to his family members and girlfriend. The transactions totaled $555.86. The Tribal Fatherhood Program reported the card missing and showed that Ardis had access to it and used it without permission.
Jana Baker, 34, Mandaree, N.D., was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 10 years, five suspended.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Dec. 17, 2008, incident where Lake County dispatch received a call about a vehicle swerving and crossing the centerline while traveling southbound on Highway 93 near mile marker 21. While the reporting party was calling, the vehicle, driven by Baker, crossed the center line and struck a northbound Honda Pilot. Baker’s passenger died from blunt trauma injuries as a result of the crash, and Baker was taken to St. Patrick’s Hospital.
A Montana Highway Patrol trooper interviewed Baker at the hospital, and Baker said that she and her passenger had left the 4 Star Bar in Ravalli before the crash, and that they had been drinking. She said she also had taken two prescription drugs, Clonazepam and Malictal. A blood test revealed Baker’s blood alcohol level was .08. Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Jan. 4:
Mitzi Lea King, 57, Polson, had her 2002 suspended sentence for criminal possession with intent to distribute, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years. King will receive credit for time served while in custody.
According to court documents, King admitted violating her probation and parole by using methamphetamine and drinking alcohol. She was charged with criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, after methamphetamine and meth paraphernalia were found in her home on Oct. 26, 2011.
Nathan Wedrick, 39, Polson, had his 2003 suspended sentences for issuing a bad check, common scheme, a felony, and forgery, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to Montana State Prison for five years, all suspended except for time served to date. Wedrick was also ordered to complete the CPR program.
According to court documents, Wedrick admitted violating his probation and parole by being cited for aggravated assault, a felony, and partner or family member assault, a misdemeanor, in July 2010 (charges were dropped when the State couldn’t locate the victim), and being cited for driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked in October 2010. Wedrick was also convicted of issuing a bad check, a misdemeanor, two counts, in Flathead County and failed to pay court-ordered restitution.
Georgena Oldperson, 26, Polson, in a change of plea, admitted issuing a bad check, common scheme, a felony. She was found guilty, and sentencing was set for Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from 28 checks written between January 29 and March 21 to merchants in Lake County, and sent to the Lake County Attorney’s office from the Tribal Prosecutor’s office. The checks were all written on a Glacier Bank checking account that belongs to OldPerson. All the checks bore OldPerson’s signature, and all were stamped “NSF” or “account closed.” Several of the merchants said they could positively identify OldPerson as the person who wrote the check. Although the Tribal Prosecutor’s office sent written notice of nonpayment to OldPerson, she failed to make the checks good or otherwise make arrangement for repayment.
Shane Romero, 38, Polson, pleaded not guilty to partner or family member assault, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Wednesday, March 7, and a jury trial was set to begin Monday, April 30. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Dec. 12, 2011, incident where officers responded to a report of domestic assault at an apartment in Polson. Romero was agitated and yelling at the other residents. The female victim, who had been in a relationship with Romero for one and a half years, said she had been in bed when Romero started yelling at her and choked her with both hands; she escaped to the living room, where another resident said he saw Romero yell at her and choke her again. Romero became increasingly belligerent and threatened the officers. A records check showed he had one prior PFMA conviction in Montana and three prior convictions for domestic assault or battery in Idaho. Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following case Thursday, Jan. 5:
Eric Templeton, 24, Ronan, in a change of plea, admitted committing the amended offense of criminal endangerment, a felony. He was found guilty, and sentencing was set for Thursday, Feb. 9, at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from an Oct. 11 incident where Templeton drove over 100 mph through Pablo while feeling from a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper. Templeton was allegedly changing lanes without signaling, passing vehicles by driving on the shoulder, drove over a dirt embankment at 65 mph, traveled 80 to 90 mph through a 35 mph zone and eventually crashed at an intersection.
