Not guilty pleas to drug charges

Jennifer Flemmer pleaded not guilty in 20th District Judicial Court last week, to charges of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession with intent to distribute. According to charging documents, March 23 a warrant was issued for her arrest after she did not appear for a drug patch change. When she was visited, drugs and drug paraphernalia were found at her residence. The charging documents say she later admitted to losing her old patch, using and intending to sell drugs in order to make some extra money. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set the trial for Nov. 1.

A Plains man is facing two charges of sexual abuse of children. David Tupper pleaded not guilty to allegations that are reported to have occurred on Halloween of 2020. According to the charging documents, police were contacted by a father who claimed his son was being propositioned by a much older man. Some of the conversation was recorded by one of the victims on their phone, and there were several text messages between Tupper and the victims. Tupper’s trial has been set for November 1 and he has been released on his own recognizance.

Elizabeth Riffle, from Thompson Falls, pleaded not guilty to charges of felony theft and the unlawful use of a computer. According to the charging documents, a local business that employed Riffle discovered several discrepancies in their bookkeeping. The company learned of inconsistencies between the deposit slips and the bank’s recorded deposits around the summer of 2018. They then discovered a timestamp of when money had been manually transferred. Upon looking up the timestamp on video footage overlooking the computer system, it was discovered that Riffle had been the one to initiate the transfer. Upon being confronted, and after initially denying the allegations, Riffle admitted to stealing twice, documents state. After her employment was terminated Nov. 19 of 2018, she returned later in the day to log in to the computer system. Documents allege she deleted business records and all personnel records related to the discrepancies. The victim company said over 16,000 records in total were deleted on Nov. 19, and between March 2018 and December 2019 more than $27,000 was stolen. Judge Chritsopher set Riffle’s trail for Nov. 1, and the omnibus for Sept. 7.

A Paradise resident is facing the charge of assault with a weapon, a felony. Charging documents say that in December 2019, Justin Loehner and another resident got into an altercation. The victim said that Loehner started the fight, which ended up in a wrestle on the ground after Loehner drew a weapon and the victim tried to defend himself. The firearm discharged and the victim was shot and then asked to call 911. The documents state the victim drove himself to the hospital. Loehner has pleaded not guilty, and his trail has been set for November 1.

Raymond Schaefer changed his plea to guilty to the charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. According to charging documents, he was arrested after drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in his vehicle. His sentencing has been set for May 18.

Kathy V. Miller appeared for sentencing Tuesday for her fourth charge of driving under the influence. According to charging documents, Miller was pulled over December 25 after several traffic complaints were called in. She was determined to be intoxicated. No sobriety tests were run, however, there was an open container in the vehicle and Miller’s person smelled of alcohol, police reported. When she was placed into the police vehicle, she wet herself. The urine in the seat was tested and showed that Miller had a .233 blood alcohol concentration (BAC). During court, Judge Christopher spoke how she was aware that Miller was fighting an addiction to alcohol, and that Miller was making steps to get better. Having just been accepted into a Watch program, Miller was sentenced to complete the 13-month Watch program, and then to be committed to the Department of Corrections for five years, with all time suspended.