Lake County District Court news for May 18, 2011
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Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, May 12:
Ervin Ramon, 40, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of failing to register as a sexual or violent offender. Ramon remains at liberty. An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, June 9 at 9 a.m. with a jury trial set to begin Monday, July 25 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from February, when a U.S. Marshall notified both CSKT tribal police and a Lake County Sheriff’s detective that Ramon was possibly residing in Ronan and receiving assistance from a local church. Ramon also had been taking GED classes at Salish Kootenai College since January. Ramon, who recently moved from Arizona, admitted he had been living in Lake County since January, and that he had been convicted of sexual assault and had registered as a sexual offender ever since he was 18 or 19 years old, but had not yet registered in Lake County because he did not want to use the church address as his residence. While in Arizona, Ramon had updated his registration status in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and had reported his plans to move to Montana to his probation officer in Arizona.
Asa Alan Lehrke, 45, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to theft, a felony. An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, June 16 at 9 a.m. with a jury trial beginning Monday, July 25 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charge stem from a March 21 incident where Lehrke allegedly approached a Charlo man at his residence and said he had run out of gas. Lehrke asked the man if he could use a bobcat tractor to move some railroad ties, and then told the man he could buy a bobcat for $5,000. The man said he would be willing to purchase a bobcat for that amount. Several days later, Lehrke called the man, said he had a bobcat to sell him but would need $1,800 initially to complete the purchase. Lehrke asked that the check be written to his name, not the auction company, picked up the check, and then promised to deliver the bobcat the next day. The following day he called the Charlo man, said he had the bobcat, and he would deliver it the following day and get the remainder of the $5,000.
The bobcat was never delivered and the man never heard from Lehrke again.
William Martin, 39, Polson, was committed to the Department of Corrections for two years, all suspended except 60 days over time served in Lake County Jail, for assault on a minor, a felony. For the offense of partner or family member assault, a felony, Martin was committed to the DOC for three years, all suspended except for 60 days to be served in Lake County Jail.
According to court records, charges stem from a November 2010 incident where a Polson police officer responded to a report of a domestic assault at the home of one of Martin’s former wives and their three sons. Allegedly Martin was intoxicated and took money from a jar in the home. When his former wife asked about the money, Martin became angry. When the oldest son asked Martin to leave and leave them alone, Martin told him to shut up, shoved him against a wall and hit him with a closed hand. Another son asked Martin not to drink and drive, at which point Martin grabbed the son by the throat, pushed him against a wall, and dropped him to the floor. The former wife said that for months Martin had threatened to beat up the oldest son and recently stated he was going to kill the son when he turned 18. Martin also backed into the son’s car when he left, causing damage to the vehicle.
A review of Martin’s criminal history showed two prior convictions in 2007 and 2009 for partner or family member assault on the sons. Martin is also on probation for violating an order of protection for his second wife.
In all assaults, records show that Martin has been violent while heavily intoxicated.
