Articles with the Tag: Courts
By Caleb M. Soptelean/Valley Journal POLSON – For the third time since 2011, Vaughn David James has defeated a rape charge. James, 44, of Polson, won at trial last week when a 9-woman, 3-man jury voted 10-2 in favor of conviction, resulting in a hung jury and a mistrial. Jury trials require...
POLSON – A 41-year-old man faces charges of aggravated burglary, theft and misdemeanor criminal mischief for allegedly stealing a vehicle and iPhone from an area residence. Robert James Matt, city unknown, was arrested following a traffic stop in Ronan on Feb. 10 after he allegedly used an axe...
POLSON – Lake County residents have seen an average increase of 8 percent or so in their property tax bills during Fiscal Year 2016-17, primarily due to the removal of the former Kerr Dam from the county’s property tax rolls. That’s the word from county finance director Scott Beggs. This...
POLSON – A father and son are facing charges for separate incidents in Lake County. Richard Shawn Twoteeth Jr. faces a rape charge stemming from September 2015, while Richard Sr. faces his fourth DUI charge from June 2015. Twoteeth Jr., 20, of Pablo, allegedly had sexual intercourse with an extre...
POLSON – An Arlee man was convicted of stalking for the second time against the same woman following a one-and-a-half -day trial last week. Brandon Bagnell, 48, was unanimously convicted by a jury on Tuesday, June 6. Sentencing is scheduled for July 26. County Attorney Steve Eschenbacher asked for a pe...
POLSON – A 32-year-old Great Falls man faces at least two forgery charges after allegedly trying to cash numerous stolen checks in Lake County. Levi Morin was arrested following a May 11 traffic stop near Finley Point when a police officer found 78 pieces of mail from 34 different people in Morin&rs...
POLSON – An 18-year-old was given a six-year deferred sentence on May 24 for causing the death of a three-year-old boy last Thanksgiving. Chasen Curley, who was originally charged with negligent homicide and pleaded guilty to an amended charge of criminal endangerment, was sentenced by Judge James A...
POLSON – An Arlee man convicted of stalking in 2014 faces a June 5 trial for another stalking charge against the same woman. Brandon Bagnell, 48, was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections with no time suspended on Nov. 6, 2014. According to a court document, Bagnell called t...
ST. IGNATIUS – A man was killed while riding his bike during the morning hours of Sunday, May 21, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell. The incident occurred near the intersection of Chalwain Road and St. Mary’s Lake Road. Sheriff Don Bell stated that Nick J. Herak, 73, died from h...
PABLO – A helping hand to those re-entering society. That’s what the Flathead Indian Reservation’s Tribal Re-entry Program offers to those dealing with misdemeanor or felony convictions. Once tribal members are released from jail or prison, they may find life difficult. That’s wher...
