Hot Springs man pleads not guilty to charge

Jason Allen Cooper entered a not guilty plea to a felony count of criminal mischief on Tuesday during an initial appearance in front of Judge Deborah Kim Christopher, who set

the case for a jury trial on January 16, 2024.

According to the charging documents, on the evening of June 30, Trooper Steve Spurr

arrested Cooper under suspicion of driving under the influence near mile marker 11 on Highway 28. After transporting Cooper to Clark Fork Valley Hospital, Trooper Spurr questioned Cooper about a report of him crashing into another vehicle at the Dog Lake Campground. Cooper claimed that other people were attempting to stop him from leaving,

and that may have been when it happened. Leaving Cooper in the custody of Sanders County Deputy Richard Woods, Trooper Spurr went to the campground to investigate.

Upon Trooper Spurr’s arrival, he spoke with the reporting party about the alleged incident. She stated that Cooper had arrived at their campsite, uninvited, looking for someone. The reporting party stated that Cooper appeared intoxicated, initiating a verbal confrontation

and refusing to leave. Cooper then got into his truck, allegedly backing up and intentionally ramming into a vehicle owned by the reporting party’s brother. Trooper Spurr documented extensive damage to the driver’s side rear of the vehicle.

Making his initial appearance on Tuesday, Xander Ray William Lesker pled not guilty to

a felony count of criminal child endangerment. As alleged in the filed affidavit, on July 2, dispatch had received a report of a group of juveniles driving a car while under the influence of alcohol on Highway 200, heading toward Thompson Falls. Additionally, one of the juveniles in the vehicle was allegedly a known runaway. Deputy Devin Wegener located the vehicle near mile marker 42, observing the car struggling to stay in its lane and crossing the yellow line several times, before initiating a traffic stop. Lesker was identified as the driver, with a 15-yearold and a 1-year-old infant as the passengers. Deputy Wegener alleged he could smell the odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle, and that Lesker’s

eyes were watery and red.

Deputy Wegener had Lesker complete the standard field sobriety tests, which indicated a high probability of intoxication. Lesker refused a preliminary breath sample, but after being taken into custody and advised further, Lesker agreed to provide a breath sample at the

Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, where he blew a 0.068% BAC. Judge Christopher set this matter for jury trial on January 16, 2024.

Chyene Lynn Baird appeared for sentencing on two felony counts of criminal child endangerment and one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, 1st offense.

As agreed upon in the plea agreement, Judge Christopher sentenced Baird to a net sentence of 10 years to the Department of Correction, with five years suspended for the felony counts, with six months in the Sanders County Jail, all suspended except 10 days, for the misdemeanor. Baird received credit for 166 days time served, must pay a $600 fine,

and is recommended to receive chemical dependency treatment.