Lake County District Court news for Dec. 21, 2011
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Dec. 8:
Jennah Siegfried, 21, Polson, was sentenced to the Lake County Jail for six months, all suspended but 10 days, for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, two suspended, for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.
According to court documents, charges stem from an Oct. 19 incident where Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a suspected intoxicated woman with a small child at Pablo IGA. When deputies arrived, Siegfried appeared fidgety, and video from the store’s security camera showed her stumbling around and behaving oddly. A bottle of hydrocodone pills was found in her car, and Siegfried told officers she had smoked a marijuana joint, snorted a hydrocodone pill and taken a Xanax before driving to the store with the 4-year-old child.
Trevor Scott, 20, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to theft, a felony, theft, a misdemeanor, forgery, a felony, criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Feb. 9, and a jury trial is set to begin Monday, March 26. Both begin at 9 a.m. Scott remains at liberty.
According to court documents, charges stem from several incidences between November 2010 and April 2011when Scott stole a gold necklace worth at least $1,700, a gold bracelet worth at least $1,400 and $200 in cash from his father’s residence in St. Ignatius. Scott also forged his father’s signatures on seven checks made out to cash; the total amount of the checks was $895. Scott stated he used the money to buy drugs, and he had morphine pills and marijuana in his possession when confronted about the thefts of the money in April. Scott’s father didn’t realize the gold jewelry was missing until September.
Laura Callahan, 31, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Feb. 9, and a jury trial is set to begin Monday, March 26. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from an Oct. 31 incident where Callahan ran her pickup into the ditch and left the vehicle. When officers interviewed her at home, she said she must have had too much to drink. A breath test showed she had a blood alcohol concentration of .188, and records show Callahan has three prior DUI convictions.
Autumn Desjarlais, 35, Pablo, pleaded not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and assault, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Jan. 12, and a jury trial is set to begin Monday, Feb. 13. Both begin at 9 a.m. Desjarlais remains at liberty.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Sept. 2 incident where Desjarlais hit a woman in the face at a bar in Charlo. She was arrested and taken to jail, where an inventory of her belongings included a baggie of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Eric Templeton, 24, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to criminal endangerment, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Feb. 9, and a jury trial is set to begin Monday, March 26. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from an Oct. 11 incident where Templeton drove over 100 mph through Pablo while fleeing from a Montana Highway Patrol trooper. Templeton allegedly changed lanes without signaling, passed 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.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Dec. 15:
Howard Peone, 62, St. Ignatius, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 10 years, five suspended for assault on a peace officer, a felony. The court recommended Peone be considered for Connection Corrections followed by pre-release. Peone was also ordered to pay for the cost of the jury, prosecution and public defender, but as he is indigent, failure to pay will not be a condition for revocation of his suspended sentence.
According to court documents, charges stem from a June 4 incident where tribal and county officers responded to a complaint of domestic violence. The reporting party said she just wanted Peone removed from the house, to which he responded that he didn’t do anything. The officers asked Peone to go outside with them, and Peone started walking toward a bedroom. An officer grabbed his arm and Peone pulled away, clenched his fist and told the officer not to touch him. Peone then struggled as the officer tried to handcuff him and said he would’ve gotten a gun if he had reached the bedroom. After the handcuffs were on, officers walked Peone outside and he kicked one officer in the leg, causing him pain.
Christopher Morigeau, 33, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to partner or family member assault, third offense, a felony. An omnibus hearing was set for Thursday, Feb. 9, and a jury trial is set to begin Monday, March 26. Both begin at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a Nov. 6 incident where officers responded to a report of domestic violence at Morigeau’s home. The first officer to arrive heard screaming from inside the house and saw a woman running down the stairs with Morigeau behind her. She tried to open the front door while Morigeau tried to stop her, but she was able to open the door enough to allow the officer in. The officer told Morigeau to turn around and put his hands behind his back and Morigeau refused; the officer forcibly handcuffed him. The woman stated that Morigeau had kicked her in the face; her bloody nose was consistent with that statement. Records show that Morigeau has two prior convictions for partner or family member assault.
Emery Smith, 38, Pablo, had his February 2010 suspended sentence for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a felony, revoked and was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years, one suspended. The court recommended Smith be considered for Connection Corrections or Watch Program and pre-release after he has completed a chemical dependency program. Smith will receive credit for time served while in custody.
According to court documents, Smith admitted violating his probation and parole as he was arrested in a bar, took an alcohol breath test showing a blood alcohol concentration of .240, and was charged with domestic abuse, a misdemeanor, by tribal police on Oct. 30; he also admitted failing to follow through with aftercare counseling for chemical dependency. Smith also allegedly failed to maintain employment during his seven months on probation.
