Lake County District Court news for Feb. 16, 2011
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Wednesday, Feb. 9:
James Adams, 52, Arlee, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 10 years with no part suspended for the amended offense of assault with a weapon. For driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, fourth or subsequent offense, Adams was sentenced to DOC for 30 years with 20 suspended. The second sentence is to run consecutive to the first, and both sentences consecutive to a previous sentence.
According to court records, the assault with a weapon charge stems from an April 2010 incident when Adams allegedly threatened numerous people at a Lake County residence.
The DUI charge stems from a March 2010 incident when a Montana Highway Patrol trooper responded to reports of a reckless motorcycle driver south of Ronan, who then crashed north of Ronan. A Ronan officer reported that he’d activated his top lights in order to initiate a traffic stop and then observed the driver, identified as Adams, abruptly accelerate before steering to the right and then crashing.
The trooper also noted Adams was abrasive and argumentative with medical personnel, and at the hospital the trooper noted that his breath smelled of an alcoholic beverage, his eyes were bloodshot, his speech was slurred, and he seemed confused.
He later admitted to buying a liter of whiskey earlier in the day and having six shots before driving the motorcycle.
The assault with a weapon charge stems from an April 4 incident when Adams allegedly threatened numerous people at a Lake County residence.
Richard Downing, III, 19, Arlee, admitted committing the amended offense of felony theft and fleeing from or eluding a peace officer, a misdemeanor. The court accepted the plea and found Downing guilty. However, the court dismissed the eluding charge without prejudice in the event the Tribe seeks to pursue the offense. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, March 16 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a September 10 incident where an idling Chevrolet Suburban had been taken from in front of a home in Polson. An officer located the missing vehicle, driven by Downing, and when Downing did not pull over the officer used “stop sticks” to puncture the tires. Downing tried to make a turn but lost control of the vehicle and crashed. He then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended.
Richard Messerly, 34, unknown residence, admitted committing the amended offense of felony theft. The court accepted the plea and found Messerly guilty. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, March 16 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a January 7 incident where a woman reported to Missoula Police that her 2008 Toyota Forerunner had been stolen from a post office parking lot. She told officers that she left the vehicle running and when she returned, she saw the vehicle exiting the parking lot.
The next day, a Ronan police officer received a report of a white Toyota Forerunner traveling southbound from Pablo on U.S. Highway 93. The officer located the vehicle and pulled it over, and identified the driver as Messerly. When the officer contacted dispatch with the license number of the vehicle, he was advised that the vehicle had been reported stolen. There was also probable cause to believe Messerly was intoxicated, and he was arrested for driving under the influence and for theft.
According to court records, Messerly, while being processed for DUI, made several statements to the effect that he felt bad for taking the vehicle from that lady. The value of the Toyota exceeds $1,500.
Jon Lozeau, 23, admitted committing the amended offense of assault on a peace officer, a felony. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, March 16 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, charges stem from a December 2010 incident when Ronan Police officers were called to the scene of a fight. The officer found Lozeau agitated and yelling at people. Lozeau initially sat down in the back seat of the patrol car, but remained combative and became aggressive toward the officer. When the officer asked Lozeau to exit the vehicle and be handcuffed, Lozeau punched the officer in the head with a closed fist.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Thursday, Feb. 10:
Jessica Marie Longneck, 27, Polson, admitted to committing the amended offense of aggravated assault, a felony. The court accepted her plea and found Longneck guilty. Sentencing is set for Thursday, March 17 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a September 2009 stabbing at the home she shared with Raymond Finley, Jr. According to court records, Finley came into the Flathead Tribal Law and Order facility, bleeding profusely and his shirt and chest was covered in blood. Finley told police Longneck had stabbed him with a seven-inch knife during an argument. Finley was treated at St. Luke’s and St. Patrick’s Hospitals and survived the wounds.
At about the same time, Longneck requested an ambulance to go to St. Luke and be treated for her injuries, which included a cut to her forehead. Longneck claimed Finley had been hitting her, so she stabbed him. In an interview with a Lake County Sheriff’s detective, she stated she lied about Finley hitting her prior to the stabbing and that she couldn’t remember how she got the cut on her forehead. She also stated she stabbed Finley to keep him from leaving her.
Madeline Weaselhead, 45, Pablo, admitted committing the amended offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony. The court accepted her plea and found Weaselhead guilty. Sentencing is set for Thursday, March 17 at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from a July 2010 incident where a 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.
Jacob Beeks, 29, Polson, was sentenced to Lake County Jail for six months with all suspended but two days for driving while license is suspended or revoked, a misdemeanor. Although another count of criminal endangerment was deferred for three years, Beeks was ordered to serve 43 days in jail. But if he completes at least 30 days inpatient treatment within 90 days of sentencing, that will satisfy the 43 days jail time.
According to court documents, charges stem from an October 2010 incident where a tribal officer pulled Beeks over for speeding on Skyline Drive and nearly losing control of the vehicle.
The officer noted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, and Beeks was asked to perform three field sobriety tests, results of which indicated that he was under the influence of alcohol.
Bruce Plouffe, 47, Ronan, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 13 months for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition, Plouffe was also sentenced to DOC for five years, all suspended, to run consecutive to the 13-month commitment.
According to court records, charges stem from an October 21 incident where a tribal officer stopped Plouffe for failing to drive on the right side of the road, and for driving with a suspended license. The officer established that Plouffe had been drinking alcohol and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Because Plouffe had four prior convictions, he was brought to the Lake County Jail, where several field sobriety tests were administered. Plouffe’s performance indicated he was impaired by alcohol, and an Intoxilyzer test revealed Plouffe’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.084 percent.
Andrew Ostrander, 20, Ronan, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for three years for criminal endangerment, a felony. Ostrander was also sentenced to Lake County Jail for six months, with all but 30 days suspended for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more, a misdemeanor. Ostrander was also fined $500. The sentenced are to run concurrent with each other.
For felony theft, Ostrander was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for two years and fined $400. That sentence will run consecutive to the first two.
According to court records, the theft charges stem from an October 2010 incident where Ostrander was pulled over around 5 a.m. on Valley Creek Road, just off Highway 93, because the brake lights on the vehicle he was driving seemed to be turning on and off. Ostrander had two other males in the car with him. It was later determined that the vehicle was stolen, along with golf clubs, a GPS, and other items Ostrander said had been stolen from cars. Guns and drug paraphernalia were also found in the car.
According to court records, the criminal endangerment and driving under the influence of alcohol charges stem from a Feb. 7, 2010 incident where Ostrander caused a wreck on Highway 93 near mile marker 43, causing injury to a minor riding in his vehicle and injury to the other driver. A blood draw shortly after the crash determined Ostrander had a blood alcohol concentration of .16 percent.
