Lake County District Court news for Dec. 9, 2012
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Judge C.B. McNeil dealt with the following cases Dec. 1:
Heather Michelle McLeod, 36, address unknown, was sentenced to Lake County Jail for six months, all suspended, for resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.
According to court records, the charges stem from a June 15 incident when police were called because McLeod reportedly showed up drunk at a friend’s house and was not welcome there.
When the responding officer arrived at the residence, he was told that McLeod showed up at the residence with her children after she was told to leave and not return. The owner of the residence also said that McLeod appeared to be intoxicated.
Once the officer located McLeod near a building on the property he convinced her to hand the small child she was carrying to a friend. McLeod then swung her closed fist at the officer’s face, missing and hitting him in the chest. The officer then took her to the ground and tried to handcuff her, but she pulled her hands away and struggled before the deputy was finally able to restrain her.
John E. Steele, 19, Pablo, was ordered to serve 30 days in Lake County Jail, which he already served. Steele’s $500 cash bond was ordered exonerated and released to the person who posted it, and his SCRAM bracelet was ordered removed.
According to court records, on or about May 15, a Flathead Tribal police officer arrived in the scene at Project 30 in Pablo on a reported fight between a male and a female. A subsequent investigation revealed Steele allegedly inside a closet in the house, and it was later discovered that Steele was in possession of hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance, not the over-the-counter Aleve as the bottle indicated.
Gregory Gonstad, 27, Clinton, Mont., admitted to committing the offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The court accepted the plea agreement and found Gonstad guilty. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, the charge stems from a Feb. 6 incident when Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a one-vehicle rollover crash on Skyline Drive in Polson. The deputy found the vehicle in the ditch and the driver, Gonstad, was trapped inside. Despite being told to remain in the vehicle until medical help arrived, Gonstad got out and deputies observed that he was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy and the he smelled of alcohol.
Gonstad told officers he had been drinking “a lot,” and said “I know I shouldn’t have done that.” When officers asked what he was referring to, he said, “driving when I was drunk.”
He admitted to driving from Clinton and that he’d been drinking for the past three days. He refused all sobriety testing or to provide a breath sample. A driving history check showed that Gonstad had four prior DUI convictions.
Luke Patrick, 36, Polson, admitted committing the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. The court accepted the plea and found Patrick guilty. Additionally, Patrick’s suspended sentence for robbery was revoked. Sentencing for both matters was set for Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, charges stem from a Sept. 3 incident when Patrick, who was on probation after serving time for robbery, allegedly would not allow his probation officer to enter his residence. According to court records, he locked the doors and hid in the attic, but was arrested after law enforcement officers pepper-sprayed the attic area. According to court records, Patrick tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine and his SCRAM bracelet indicated he had also been consuming alcohol the same day.
Tammie Jo Guardipee, 51, Dayton, pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with a weapon, all felonies.
Guardipee remains at liberty on $20,000 bail and an omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011 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.
Nico Reid, 18, St. Ignatius, pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. Reid remains at liberty and an omnibus hearing is set for Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011. A jury trial is set for February 14, 2011.
Charges stem from a Sept. 29 incident where medication was reported stolen from a student’s backpack. A security video showed Reid rifling through the backpack, and Reid admitted taking the pills. He retrieved 12 hydrocodone pills from where he stashed them and when asked what he was going to do with them, Reid told the officer he was going to use them.
Judge Deborah Kim Christopher dealt with the following cases Dec. 2:
Jacob Beeks, 28, Polson, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a felony, and driving while suspended or revoked, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 at 9 a.m. and jury trial is set for Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, at 9 a.m.
According to court documents, charges stem from an Oct. 31 incident where a tribal officer pulled Beeks over for speeding. 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. Beeks refused to take a preliminary breath test and a check of his records indicated his driving privileges were revoked and he had three prior DUI convictions.
William D. Martin III, 39, Polson, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault on a minor, a felony; two counts of partner or family member assault, both felonies; driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a misdemeanor; and driving while license suspended or revoked, a misdemeanor. An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 at 9 a.m. and a jury trial is set for Monday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, charges stem from a Nov. 8 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.
Keewyann Patricia Gardipe, 34, Ronan, pleaded not guilty to two charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, all felonies. An omnibus hearing is set for Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011 at 9 a.m. and jury trial for Monday, March 7, 2011 at 9 a.m.
According to court records, charges stem from an Oct. 23 incident where a Montana Highway Patrol trooper confirmed with his radar a black truck traveling 77 mph in a posted 65 mph zone on Hwy 93 near Mud Creek Lane. As the trooper initiated a traffic stop, the driver pulled onto Mud Creek Lane and into a residential driveway and attempted to flee on foot. The trooper chased after Gardipe, grabbed her by the shirt as she tried to jump a fence, and finally grabbed her by the arm and told her she was under arrest. Gardipe appeared intoxicated and admitted she was running from him because she was drunk, although her speech was too slurred for the trooper to understand the rest of her conversation on the way to the Lake County Detention Center.
Gardipe was unable to successfully complete sobriety tests at the center and she refused a breath test. In her belongings was a rolled one-dollar bill with a white substance and two types of schedule III drugs — Lortab and Anexsia.
