Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
Sorted by date Results 76 - 93 of 93
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...
Chazarae Swaney appeared before Judge Molly Owen on Tuesday in 20th District Judicial Court with her attorney, Britt Cotter, for a change of plea hearing. Per the presented plea agreement, Swaney pled guilty to an amended felony count of criminal endangerment. Sentencing was set for October 25, 2022. Matthew McCrossen also came before the court for a change of plea. McCrossen entered guilty pleas, with the assistance of his attorney, to three felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Judge Owen set sentencing for October 25,...
Aaron Eugene McLaughlin appeared before Judge John W. Larson on August 30 for sentencing. McLaughlin in June was found guilty of deliberate homicide by a jury in the October 2020 death of his roommate, Raymond Wachlin. Judge Larson handed down a sentence of 80 years in the Montana State Prison, with no time suspended and credit for 693 days time served. McLaughlin killed his roommate in October 2020 by blunt force trauma that caused a massive brain hemorrhage. McLaughlin called 911 after the assault and said he beat the victim, Raymond R....
Appearing before Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher on Tuesday for his initial appearance, Jay Anderson pleaded not guilty to felony counts of aggravated driving under the influence (fourth offense) and criminal endangerment, and misdemeanor counts of failure to exhibit proof of insurance and reckless endangerment of emergency personnel. According to the charging documents, on July 12, while assisting with a traffic stop, a green Dodge Ram nearly hit Deputy Devin Wegener. The deputy returned to his patrol vehicle and started following the tru...
Appearing before Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher last Tuesday, July 19, John Hannan entered a not guilty plea to one felony count of burglary. Per the charging documents, on December 13, 2021, deputies responded to a burglary in progress at a residence near Trout Creek. The reporting party was house sitting for a friend when the homeowner’s dogs began barking in the bedroom. Upon going to check on the dogs, the housesitter saw Hannan, a neighbor, standing in the bedroom with a crowbar and dressed in dark clothing. Hannan raised the crowbar t...
Anthony Henkel made his initial appearance on Tuesday before Judge Molly Owen on a felony count of partner or family member assault, pleading not guilty through his attorney, Kimberly Durham. According to the charging documents, on July 14, 2022, deputies responded to a residence in Hot Springs, where they met with Henkel's girlfriend, the victim. The victim stated Henkel had gone out drinking after she and Henkel had been arguing all day. When Henkel returned to the residence, he was still arguing with her. As alleged in the affidavit, Henkel...
A jury last week found Michel Scott Dulaney guilty of three counts of attempted deliberate homicide. The charges stemmed from events that occurred at Dulaney’s residence in Heron on July 11, 2020. Per the charging documents, Sanders County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a man being shot in the back by his neighbor, who was later identified as Dulaney. At that time, the victim was being transported to the hospital in Sandpoint. While deputies were en route, Dulaney also called dispatch, reporting he was barricaded inside his home, b...
Lynden Flagen appeared before Judge Karen Townsend on Tuesday for an adjudication hearing on a petition to revoke. Flagen admitted to two non-compliance probation violations, including law violations that had led to charges in Lake County, which he has since been convicted of. Following discussion between the parties, Flagen imposed a suspended sentence that will run concurrent to the sentence imposed in the Lake County case. Judge Townsend made recommendations for Flagen to be screened for appropriate treatment and remanded him to the custody...
During trial on June 9, a jury found Aaron Eugene McLaughlin guilty of deliberate homicide in the 2020 death of Raymond Wachlin. According charging documents, on October 7, 2020, McLaughlin called 911, telling dispatch that he had beaten his roommate, Wachlin, and that Wachlin had a “weak pulse.” Hot Springs Police Chief Eric Pfleger responded to the residence, observed McLaughlin standing out at the end of the driveway, and secured McLaughlin in his patrol car. Pfleger knew that Wachlin resided at this location and entered the home to che...
Judge Karen Townsend presided over a lengthy calendar on Tuesday for the 20th Judicial District Court, appearing by video from Missoula. Bertha Rose Garrett appeared for her initial appearance on a felony count of criminal endangerment and two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and operating without liability insurance. Per the charging documents filed, law enforcement responded to a hit and run that occurred on Highway 200 near Thompson Falls. . The occupants of the vehicle that was hit claimed they knew the driver,...
Appearing for his arraignment before Judge Karen Townsend on Tuesday, Steven Grimm pled not guilty in 20th District Judicial Court to three counts of assault with a weapon, one count of attempted burglary, and one count of partner or family member assault. According to the charging documents filed, officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival at the location, Grimm was attempting to leave the scene, leading officers to block him in with their patrol vehicles. Grimm was allegedly angry and shouting profanities. An officer int...
Matthew McCrossen appeared before Judge James A. Manley in the 20th Judicial District Court on Tuesday for his arraignment on multiple charges. McCrossen, through his attorney Britt Cotter, entered not guilty pleas to one count of assault with a weapon, four counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and one count each of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, and obstructing a peace officer. Charging documents state that on June 25, 2021, the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office was notified by Mineral County o...
Cleveland Gun Hammer appeared in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday for a final disposition hearing on a petition to revoke probation. Gun Hammer had entered his admissions to the probation violations alleged against him during a previous hearing on May 3. As agreed upon by the parties, Judge Karen Townsend revoked Gun Hammer’s previous five-year suspended sentence and sentenced him to five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections with recommendations for placement in an appropriate treatment facility. Gun Hammer was a...
David Johnson entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney, Britt Cotter, to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs in 20th District Judicial Court on Tuesday. According to the charging documents, on February 11, 2022, the Thompson Falls Police Department received a report of an erratic driver heading toward Thompson Falls. Officer Jason Thornton located the vehicle matching the description and observed the erratic driving behavior prior to initiating a stop. Thornton was familiar with Johnson and noted his behavior was...
The jury trial for a 2018 homicide concluded last Tuesday with a guilty verdict for the charge of deliberate homicide against Cavey Little Rossbach. On October 5, 2018, the body of William “Bill” Conko-Camel was discovered shot in the road on Frank McClure Street in Dixon. Responding officers were told by the victim’s girlfriend that she and the victim had been visiting another residence when Rossbach burst through the front door and attacked Conko-Camel while shouting accusations, according to charging documents. A fight ensued, during which...
Frederick Tapia appeared before Judge James A. Manley in 20th Judicial District Court for his arraignment on Tuesday. Tapia entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney, Kirk Krutilla, to a felony charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the charging documents, Montana Highway Patrol received a report from another motorist of a black SUV driving “all over the road” on Highway 28. The trooper followed the SUV, also observing erratic driving. Upon stopping the vehicle, the trooper noted that the driver, Tapia, was slu...
