Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, Toby Elvadore Zak entered a plea of guilty to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, pursuant to a plea agreement. After a brief discussion regarding prior criminal history and Zak’s current probation from Idaho, a sentencing hearing was set for March 19, 2024. Braden J. Jones appeared for his initial appearance on a petition to revoke his deferred sentence. After discovering that Missoula Probation and Parole had changed their recommendations for re-sentencing in a...
James Vernon Day, Jr., appeared before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday for his initial appearance. Day entered a plea of not guilty to felony charges of theft, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person, removing or falsifying a vehicle identification number, criminal mischief, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Day also pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Owen set this matter for jury trial on June 24, 2024. According to the filed affidavit, on...
Ronnie Maxwell Goodrum made his initial appearance before Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to a felony count of assault with a weapon. A jury trial was set for June 3, 2024. According to the filed affidavit, on December 26, 2023, Thompson Falls Chief of Police Chris Nichols received a call from Sanders County dispatch regarding a report from a resident saying that Goodrum had been at his home, making threats, and refusing to leave. The resident stated that Goodrum was attempting to locate his ex-girlfriend, who wa...
Anthony T. Worth appeared before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, pleading guilty to one felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, as well as three misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended/revoked, and a seatbelt violation. A jury trial was set for June 24, 2024. According to the filed affidavit, on November 23, 2023, Trooper Steven Spurr was patrolling Upper Lynch Creek Road near Plains when he observed a white box truck exceeding the posted speed limit. As he slowed his patrol vehicl...
Nicholas Ray Needles pleaded not guilty to six felony counts of incest before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday during his arraignment. As Judge John Larson has assumed jurisdiction over this matter after a motion for substitution of judge, Judge Christopher held the arraignment on his behalf. Judge Larson’s office will issue a date for the jury trial in the near future. As detailed in the filed affidavit, on November 16, Thompson Falls Police Officer Michael Derry was dispatched to a home in Thompson Falls following a report of possible...
Following the passage of HB470, also known as the Yield-Slow Down-Move Over Act, earlier this year new requirements went into effect October 1 regarding how drivers must respond to emergency personnel and highway workers when stationary with their emergency lights and/or siren engaged. HB 470 amended several sections of the Montana Code Annotated that related to emergency vehicles, highway worker’s vehicles, and how the public shall respond when these vehicles have their lights or sirens on. As detailed in MCA 61-8-388, when approaching a s...
Gary William Rubusch appeared before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Rubusch’s attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, requested that her client be released on his own recognizance. County Attorney, Megan Hansen, had no objection to this request as Rubusch is currently on probation, leading to Judge Owen granting the request. A jury trial was set for May 13, 2024. According to the charging documents, on N...
Appearing on Tuesday before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher for an initial appearance, Douglas D. Paige entered a not guilty plea to felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession with intent to distribute. Judge Christopher set this matter for a jury trial on April 15, 2024. On August 15 at approximately 3 p.m., according to the filed affidavit, Sanders County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Bankhead was advised of a report of two men allegedly fighting, drinking and soon to be driving from the Wild Coyote Bar near T...
Tabitha Dawn Ballard appeared for sentencing before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday. Pursuant to a plea agreement between the parties, Ballard was sentenced to three years suspended for felony strangulation, two years deferred imposition of sentence on felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and six months suspended to the Sanders County Jail for misdemeanor criminal mischief. All of the charges will run concurrent with each other, but consecutive to any other sentence. Judge Owen waived the majority of Ballard’s fines and fees and gave h...
Joshua Galloway appeared before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday to change his plea after entering a plea agreement with the state. After some discussion between the parties, Galloway pled guilty to an amended charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. Galloway’s attorney, Steve Fletcher, requested an own recognizance release for his client. The parties discussed Galloway’s situation and intentions, ending with County Attorney Megan Hansen having no objection to Galloway’s release so long as a drug patch is appli...
Appearing before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, Raymond Lee Horn entered a plea of guilty to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, pursuant to a plea agreement with the State. Judge Owen ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence investigation report and set sentencing for January 9, 2024. Anthony Duane Henkel came before the court for a change of plea following a plea agreement reached with the State. Henkel pled guilty to one felony count of partner or family member assault, 3rd or subsequent...
A Trout Creek man is back in custody after fleeing from authorities following a court appearance on Tuesday. Alton J. Steinhoff appeared before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher Tuesday for an initial appearance on two felony charges of violation of a protective order, third or subsequent offense. After entering a not guilty plea, a jury trial was set for February 19, 2024, which is the same setting as another felony case involving Steinhoff that is also pending before Judge Christopher. Steinhoff’s attorney, Steve Fletcher, addressed the court r...
Justin John Mielke pleaded not guilty to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence, 1st offense, during his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday. A jury trial was set for April 8, 2024. Mielke’s attorney, Robert Long, requested a bond reduction to an own recognizance release, citing that Mielke has no previous criminal history and arrangements have been made for somewhere for Mielke to live. Judge Owen g...
Joshua Michael Dodson made his initial appearance before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of partner or family member assault and felony charges of assault with a weapon, strangulation of a partner or family member, attempted arson, and criminal endangerment. A jury trial was set for February 19, 2024. Dodson’s attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, made a request to reduce Dodson’s bond to an own recognizance release, addressing the fact that Dodson has completed numerous domestic violence trainings...
Appearing for his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, Gordon Seymour Johnson pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor charge of partner or family member assault, first offense, as well as felony charges of sexual intercourse without consent and assault with a weapon. Judge Owen set this matter for jury trial on March 11, 2024. Johnson’s attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, requested a bail reduction to an own recognizance release as Johnson has some medical issues requiring treatment and needs to return to his work as a wood cutter. C...
Desiree Dawn Ballard appeared for an initial appearance before Judge Deborah “Kim: Christopher on Tuesday, entering not guilty pleas to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Christopher set this matter for jury trial on February 19, 2024. As laid out in the charging documents, on August 30, after receiving credible information regarding possible drug activity at Ballard’s apartment, Sanders County Sheriff’s Deputy Devin Wegener received a searc...
Kimberly Sue Harris entered a not guilty plea to one felony count of aggravated driving under the influence before Judge Kaydee Snipes Ruiz on Thursday. Judge Snipes Ruiz questioned the Special Deputy County Attorney, Adam Duerk, regarding prior DUIs for Harris. According to a criminal history report, Duerk noted four previous convictions from Texas and Washington. Judge Snipes Ruiz set a trial date of February 13, 2024. As detailed in the charging documents, on July 14, Deputy Devin Wegener overheard Hot Springs Police on the radio reporting...
Former Sanders County attorney Naomi Leisz made her initial appearance in court on Tuesday, entering a not guilty plea to one charge of criminal insurance fraud. Leisz appeared before Judge Edward P. McLean at the Sanders County Courthouse. She is being represented by attorney Colin Stephens. Insurance fraud charge stems from an accident that occurred in April 2022, according to the charging documents, where a vehicle Leisz owned was involved in an accident in Trout Creek while allegedly being driven by her son. The vehicle was allegedly then...
Making his initial appearance before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Monday, Raymond Burton McIntyre entered not guilty pleas to a felony count of aggravated driving under the influence and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving, second or subsequent offense. McIntyre’s attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, made an argument for the reduction of McIntyre’s bail from the initial amount of $75,000. After discussion between the parties regarding McIntyre’s lengthy DUI history, Judge Christopher ordered the bond be lowered to $10,000 with the requi...
Appearing before Judge Jessica Fehr on Tuesday, Raymond Lee Horn pled not guilty to felony charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person, as well as a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. As outlined in the charging documents, in the early morning hours of July 10, Trooper Steve Spurr was contacted by Thompson Falls Police Officer Roy Scott concerning a traffic stop that Officer Scott had just...
Jason Allen Cooper entered a not guilty plea to a felony count of criminal mischief on Tuesday during an initial appearance in front of Judge Deborah Kim Christopher, who set the case for a jury trial on January 16, 2024. According to the charging documents, on the evening of June 30, Trooper Steve Spurr arrested Cooper under suspicion of driving under the influence near mile marker 11 on Highway 28. After transporting Cooper to Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Trooper Spurr questioned Cooper about a report of him crashing into another vehicle at...
Appearing for his initial appearance before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, Larry Clay King pleaded not guilty to one felony count of driving under the influence and misdemeanor counts of driving while license suspended and unlawful possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle on the highway. Judge Christopher set this matter for jury trial on November 6, 2023. According to the charging documents, on July 2, Sanders County Dispatch received a report of a pickup running the stop sign at the intersection of...
Peter Gerald Love made his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on a felony count of assault with a weapon on Tuesday, pleading not guilty. Judge Owen set this case for jury trial on December 11, 2023. According to the charging documents, on or around May 25, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a resident saying had been threatened with a firearm during an argument with his neighbor. Deputy Craig McCarthy spoke with the complainant, who claimed the argument had started over a dog. The incident escalated to an argumen...
Kosal Chea, appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Monday, entered not guilty pleas to felony counts of sexual intercourse without consent and sexual assault. Chea’s attorney, Cheryl Copperstone, made a bond argument, requesting to release Chea on his own recognizance. However, due to the circumstances and seriousness of the allegations, Judge Christopher denied a reduction in bond at this time. The jury trial was set for November 6, 2023. According to the charging documents, toward the beginning of May 2023, Thompson Falls City P...
Appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, Chyene Lynn Baird changed her plea to three counts, pursuant to a plea agreement reached between the parties. Baird pleaded guilty to two felony counts of criminal child endangerment and a misdemeanor first offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Judge Christopher set the sentencing hearing for July 18, 2023. Coming before the court for an adjudication hearing on a petition to revoke regarding Darin Gene McElmurry, the parties announced that a global resolution had...
