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Vehicle thefts, pursuits result in 4 court cases Vehicle thefts, pursuits result in 4 court cases

A St. Ignatius man is accused in a series of car thefts and high-speed pursuits. Shonko Christy-Lacounte, 23, pleaded not guilty at District Court in Polson on March 31 to three counts of felony theft and one count each of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal mischief. Christy-Lacounte was already facing one count of criminal endangerment from a pursuit on Jan. 30, 2020. According to court records, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Terry Rosenbaum observed a small white car with severe damage to the front end and no functioning taillights traveling on Olsen Road near Charlo. As Trooper Rosenbaum attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver of the car accelerated and a ...


Marion woman pleads not guilty to negligent homicide, theft

A Marion woman is accused of stealing a car in Kalispell before being involved a fatal car wreck with it later in Pablo. Lease Sierra Moore, 18, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court at Polson on April 1, to felony charges of negligent homicide and theft. According to court records, on Sept. 3...


Man sentenced with strangulation Man sentenced with strangulation

A Ronan man was sentenced at District Court in Polson on March 31 as a persistent felony offender and given five years in the Montana State Prison on one count of strangling a partner or family member. Andrew Orlando Bigleggins, 32, was found guilty of the felony by a Lake County jury on March 2. He was acqu...


Linerud pleads not guilty to assault Linerud pleads not guilty to assault

Jonathan James Linerud, 30, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on March 25 to two felony counts of assault with a weapon. The Polson man is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend. According to court records, on Nov. 17, 2020, Polson police responded to a report tha...


High-speed chase ends with arrest High-speed chase ends with arrest

Law enforcement from multiple Montana agencies were involved in a high-speed pursuit that began Saturday night in Lake County and ended early Sunday morning in Flathead County. The driver was identified as Joseph Brown, 36. In Lake County, emergency dispatchers were notified of a “road rage” i...


Woman faces two trials for drug charges

A Pablo woman, who was already facing a drug possession charge in Lake County, is now facing the more serious offense of distributing drugs. Dolly Blue Zambrana, 44, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on March 25 to criminal possession with intent to distribute. According to court...


Man awaits trial for strangulation, theft charges Man awaits trial for strangulation, theft charges

Larrs Jalen Omingo, 20, of St. Ignatius, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson, on March 17, to felony strangulation of a partner or family member and theft. According to court records, on March 4, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Police responded to the St. Ignatius area concern...


Man pleads not guilty to assault

Jose Anders Gonzalez, 29, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on March 11 to felony charges of criminal possession with intent to distribute and assault with a weapon. According to court records, on Feb. 18, Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a female...


Woman receives sentence after a no-contest plea to negligent homicide

Lake County District Judge James Manley deferred the imposition of sentencing for three years for a Ronan woman convicted of negligent homicide on March 10. Lindsay Elizabeth Castrillo, 36, entered a no-contest plea to the charge as part of a plea agreement that was reached on Jan. 20. She was initially c...


Trial date set for rape charges

Bojai Dominick Grant-Schmidt, 19, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on March 11 to sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of strangulation of a partner or family member. The charges carry a combined maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. According to court records, on Feb...


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