Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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Following a global plea agreement that resolves the three cases pending before the court, Alton Steinhoff entered a no contest plea in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday to a felony charge of escape. Per the plea agreement, Steinhoff was committed to the custody of the Department of Public Health and Human Services for a period of 10 years, with five years suspended and credit for 203 days time served. Additionally, the other two cases were dismissed. In his statement to the court, Steinhoff expressed remorse for his actions and said that...
James William Hill made his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen last week on a felony charge of failing to give notice of change of address by a sexual/violent offender, pleading not guilty. A jury trial was set for September 19, 2024. According to the charging documents, on January 2, Detective Ethan Harvey was contacted by Lynn Bierwagen, Probation and Parole, regarding one of her probationers that she had recently revoked. Hill, a registered sex offender, had a last known address in Paradise but had been arrested and was being held...
After nearly 24 years of serving the people of Lake and Sanders counties as a judge in the Twentieth Judicial District, Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher has announced her retirement, effective April 5. Christopher first took the bench in 2000, becoming the first female judge to serve the Twentieth Judicial District. Growing up in Polson, but with family ties to Sanders County through her mother's family, Christopher attended law school at the University of Montana, starting her legal career as an...
Coming before Judge Molly Owen for his initial appearance, Brent Allen Wiegele entered a not guilty plea to one felony count of burglary on Tuesday. A jury trial was set for July 23, 2024. As alleged in the charging documents, on or around March 22, 2023, Sanders County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig McCarthy was advised of a reported trespass at a property between Thompson Falls and Trout Creek. According to the property owner, they had recently inherited the ranch and its equipment. The first time they had noticed anything amiss was the previous d...
Theodore Gibson made an initial appearance on Tuesday before Judge John Larson for a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon, entering a plea of not guilty. A jury trial was scheduled for July 15, 2024. As detailed in the affidavit filed with the court, on February 10, Sanders County Sheriff’s Deputy Corey Wheeldon responded to the Barber Shop Bar in Hot Springs following a report of a male entering the bar with a firearm and waiving it at patrons. Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Zachary Rehbein also responded, arriving on scene prior t...
Appearing for his initial appearance, William Lucas Wyatt entered not guilty pleas in court on Tuesday to felony charges of burglary and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, stemming from a break-in at the Top Shelf Botanicals dispensary in Plains. Judge Deborah Kim Christopher set this matter for a jury trial on July 15, 2024. Co-defendant McKenzie Allen Managhan also appeared for an initial appearance on a felony charge of burglary by accountability, in relation to the same incident. Managhan's jury trial was set for July 15, 204...
After a three-day jury trial last week, a panel of jurors found Joshua Michael Dodson not guilty of two felony counts of assault with a weapon and strangulation of a partner or family member, but found Dodson guilty of a felony count of criminal endangerment and one misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault, 1st offense. Dodson had stood accused of an altercation with a female partner during an argument that allegedly led to Dodson physically assaulting her and threatening to burn down the camper she lived in. Judge Deborah Kim...
Coming before the court for his initial appearance, Jesse James Motes pled not guilty to a felony count of aggravated assault on Tuesday. Judge Molly Owen set this case for a jury trial on August 28, 2024. As alleged in the charging documents, on October 12, 2023, Hot Springs Police Chief Robyn Largent was dispatched to the Creekside Apartments regarding a report of an assault. Upon arriving at the location, Chief Largent noted injuries on the alleged victim, who was visibly upset and initially didn’t want to talk. Chief Largent was able to s...
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...
