Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
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by Stephanie Molzhon Making his initial appearance before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, Homer Sam Colman pled not guilty to two felony charges of criminal endangerment, stemming from a high speed chase that took place at the beginning of April. Judge Christopher set this matter for jury trial on November 6, 2023. According to the filed affidavit, on April 6, Tribal Officer T.J. Haynes was patrolling in the Arlee area when he witnessed Colman driving northbound through Arlee. As Officer Haynes was aware that Colman’s driver’s lic...
Appearing for her initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, Angela Rhea Chaney entered not guilty pleas to a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and bribery in official and political matters. Judge Owen set the jury trial for October 10, 2023. According to the charging documents, on March 21, Deputy Devin Wegener responded to a call of an intoxicated woman being disorderly in the middle of the highway, to the point that bystanders had to...
Dorissa Angel Jule Garza appeared before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher for her arraignment on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The jury trial was set for September 18, 2023. According to the charging documents, on March 27, Deputy Devin Wegener conducted a traffic stop near Dixon when a driver did not dim their headlights. Initially, the passenger of the vehicle lied about her name, but was later identified as Garza. Upon Deputy Wegener requesting the registration and insurance for the...
by Stephanie Molzhon James Lee Herring made his initial appearance before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday, entering a not guilty plea to a felony count of assault with a weapon, stemming from an incident in March. A jury trial was set for September 18. According to the affidavit filed, Deputy Devin Wegener responded to a call regarding an incident that occurred with Herring in Paradise. Deputy Wegener drove down to speak with the alleged victim, who shared that Herring came to his apartment and appeared to be intoxicated. The two...
by Stephanie Molzhon On Tuesday, appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher for his initial appearance, Darin Gene McElmurry entered not guilty pleas to one felony count of strangulation of a partner or family member, 1st offense, and a misdemeanor count of partner or family member assault, 2nd offense. After an argument for a bond reduction was denied, the jury trial was scheduled for September 18, 2023. As laid out in the charging documents, on March 19, Thompson Falls Police Officer Jason Thornton was contacted via dispatch regarding a...
Appearing for his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, John Walter Hannan entered a not guilty plea to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Hannan’s attorney, Bill Lower, made an argument to reduce bond in this case to an own recognizance release on this case, which would run concurrent with the release restrictions in effect for Hannan’s current probation revocation. Judge Owen ordered the bond to remain as previously ordered, but to run concurrent with the other matter. Jury trial was set for Sep...
Appearing on Tuesday for his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen, Rodney George Marriott entered a plea of not guilty to one felony charge of aggravated assault, stemming from a domestic altercation on the morning of January 23. As alleged in the charging documents, Detective Phillips was notified of a partner/family member assault in the Plains area and responded to Clark Fork Valley Hospital to interview the parties involved while the responding officers remained at the scene to investigate. Marriott was already at the hospital when...
Making her initial appearance on Tuesday before Judge Molly Owen, Jeannie Lee Sampson entered not guilty pleas to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Owen set this case for jury trial on August 7, 2023. As alleged in the charging documents, Deputy Devin Wegener responded to the Sanders County Jail after Sampson was arrested on an unrelated warrant at the boat launch in Trout Creek by Deputy Paul Bankhead. Upon arrival at the jail, Deputy Bankhead...
by Stephanie Molzhon Appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher on Tuesday for his initial appearance, Kenneth Aultman Cobert entered 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 a jury trial for June 6, 2023. As alleged in the charging documents, on January 9, Deputy Richard Woods was parked at the Cornerstone gas station at the corner of Highways 28 and 77 in Hot Springs when he saw the cashier inside the store wavin...
Marty Jay Billmayer entered his guilty pleas and was sentenced, pursuant to a plea agreement, during his omnibus hearing on Tuesday before Judge Molly Owen. County Attorney Naomi Leisz notified Judge Owen that the parties had reached a plea agreement, which included amending count one, which was originally charged as a felony driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense. Leisz informed Judge Owen the reason the charge was being amended to negligent endangerment was due to the difficulty of proving impairment...
Toby Elvadore Zak appeared before Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher on Tuesday for his initial appearance on a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor charges of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Zak, through his attorney Ben Darrow, entered not guilty pleas to all charges. Judge Christopher set a trial date of June 5, 2023. As alleged in the charging documents, on December 30, Deputy Devin Wegener responded to a request for a welfare check. Upon...
Appearing before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday, Scott L. Peterson entered not guilty pleas to felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession with intent to distribute, and criminal possession of imitation drugs with purpose to distribute, as well as a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Jury trial was set for June 12, 2023. As stated in the charging documents, shortly after midnight on December 24, Deputy Devin Wegener was patrolling in the Trout Creek area and observed a truck idling with...
After spending 18 years in the Montana State Prison and having his conviction for deliberate homicide overturned, Richard Raugust agreed to a $5 million settlement with Sanders County and a former deputy, who is alleged to have withheld evidence that would have greatly assisted in his defense. Raugust filed suit for damages against the parties at the end of 2019 in state district court, after the State of Montana denied his claim for $97 million for compensation for his loss of liberty, pain and suffering, punitive damages, attorney fees and...
Two individuals were arrested and transported to the Sanders County Jail on December 23, following a call from a concerned citizen, who was able to provide enough detailed information for officers to locate the vehicle the individuals were driving in Trout Creek. The Sanders County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) shared a press release on its Facebook page stating officers were initially unable to locate the suspect vehicle, but Deputy Devin Wegener spotted the vehicle about an hour later. After...
During a hearing held Monday, Anthony Henkel opted to withdraw his guilty plea to a felony count of partner or family member assault, following Judge Molly Owen’s decision to not follow the plea agreement. As the parties had reached the plea agreement prior to the omnibus hearing, Henkel had the choice for Judge Owen to decide the sentence or to withdraw his guilty plea and proceed to a jury trial. Judge Owen reinstated Henkel’s not guilty plea and set this matter for jury trial on June 12, 2023. After reviewing Henkel’s criminal history in th...
Michel Scott Dulaney was sentenced on Monday for his role in an 2020 armed altercation that led to his neighbor being shot and paralyzed. Dulaney appeared before Judge Robert Deschamps III with his attorney Quentin Rhodes and Special Deputy County Attorney Thorin Geist for his sentencing hearing, following his guilty verdict handed down by the jury at the end of June. Following the reading of the victim impact statements by two of the victims, Judge Deschamps sentenced Dulaney to 45 years in the Montana State Prison for one count of attempted...
Brody Everett Hill made his initial appearance before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday on charges stemming from a head-on collision with a Sanders County Sheriff’s deputy in April 2022. Hill entered not guilty pleas to felony counts of negligent vehicular assault and criminal endangerment, as well as misdemeanor counts of a seatbelt violation, driving under the influence of alcohol, and unlawful possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle. According to charging documents, on April 6, 2022, Montana Highway Patrol responded to t...
Michael Aaron Charlo appeared before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday for his initial appearance on a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Charlo entered not guilty pleas to both charges. Judge Christopher set a trial date of April 17, 2023. According to the charging documents, on August 23, Deputy Wegener with the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a vehicle that had been reported as parked in the yard o...
Appearing before Judge Molly Owen on November 9, Jennifer Marie Charlo entered her not guilty pleas to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. According to charging documents, on August 23, Deputy Wegener with the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle that had been reported as parked in the yard of a residence in Noxon. Deputy Wegener looked through the driver’s side windshield, seeing a woman, Charlo, sleeping in the passenger seat, alo...
Appearing before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher, Bertha Rose Garrett changed her plea to two counts pursuant to a plea agreement reached between the parties. Garrett addressed the court, stating she wanted to take responsibility for her actions, and pled guilty to a felony count of criminal endangerment and a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, first offense. Sentencing was set for December 6, 2022. Kennith Hoskins was present for a hearing on a petition to revoke his probation. Judge Christopher noted that this is the second time...
Anthony Duane Henkel appeared in District Court Tuesday before Judge Molly Owen for a change of plea hearing. Following a plea agreement reached by the parties, Henkel entered a plea of guilty to a felony count of partner or family member assault, stemming from events that occurred on July 14, 2022. Judge Owen set this matter for sentencing on December 13, 2022....
Appearing on Tuesday before Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher for his initial appearance, Braden Jones entered not guilty pleas to felony counts of criminal mischief and sexual assault, and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. A jury trial was set for January 17, 2023, by Judge Christopher. Per the charging documents, on September 9, Deputy Wegener was dispatched to a reported sexual assault in the Thompson Falls area. The reporting party had called 911 stating she had been attacked by a male family friend, who was currently intoxicated and...
Appearing on Tuesday before Judge Molly Owen for his arraignment, Devin Williams entered not guilty pleas to one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Owen set the jury trial for March 13, 2023. Per the charging documents, on August 26, 2022, officers responded to a complaint of a possible impaired driver in Thompson Falls. After locating the suspect vehicle with the assistance of the reporting party, officers approached the driver, who informed the...
Joshua Alan McKnight was found guilty of a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, following a jury trial on September 12, 2022 with Judge Molly Owen presiding. McKnight appeared with his attorney, Robert Long, at the start of the trial, however, McKnight failed to come back before the court after the lunch recess. Following discussion and further instruction from Judge Owen, the trial continued in McKnight’s absence. Judge Owen set sentencing for this matter on December 13, 2022. An arrest warrant was issued and served on M...
