Judge denies release for man in drug case

by Annie Wooden

In 20th Judicial District Court on Tuesday, Suede Shuttle made an initial appearance in court, entering not guilty pleas to charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs (methamphetamine), a felony, and criminal posession of drug paraphenalia, a misdemeanor. On Sept. 26, a 9-1-1 call from the Wild Coyote Saloon included a report that someone had claimed he killed someone and that he was loading a gun. Police were called and Shuttle was found about a quarter-mile from the Wild Coyote. Officers found Shuttle walking along the road, and found him with a .22 handgun and shells, a bayonet, marijunana pipes and a glass meth pipe with residue that further tests from the state crime lab determeined to be meth.

Judge James Manley denied Shuttle’s request for release.

Judge Manley sentenced Justus Massey to 5 years with the Department of Corrections with three years suspended. Massey had been charged wtih criminal endangemernt and obstructing a police officer. He was arrested in Hot Springs Jan. 21, 2017, on a warrent out of Missoula County.

Also in court Tuesday, Judge Manley ordered Jacob Barrett extradited back to the state of Washington. Barrett was arrested Dec. 21 at a residence on South Hill Road in Trout Creek.

Judge Manley said a defendant had made steps in the right direction after completing PTSD and alcohol treatment voluntarily. Beau Stewart changed his plea to guilty in District Court to one count of family member assault and one count of criminal endangerment stemming from inicents in Trout Creek in January and May of 2017. Sentencing was set for Jan. 30.

Barney Matthew pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance after his arraignement Tuesday in which he entered not guilty pleas. Matthew is charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs (methamphetamine) and misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphenalia. A Sanders County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested Matthew during a traffic stop on Sept. 25. According to charging documents, Matthew told authoriities he had moved from Texas, was on felony probation and did not have a travel permit to be in Montana.

Judge Manley sentenced Cody Potter to a 3-year deferred sentence with the Department of Corrections on Tuesday. Potter was convicted of criminal endangerment.

Finally, a Plains woman entered a not guilty plea to felony exploitation of an older person. Earnie Tempero faces up to a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison after an investigation by the Plains Police Department into claims of fraud after a person Tempero was caretaking was moved into an assisted living facility.