Wood's trial set for July

After the original conviction was reversed and remanded back for a new trial in the Sanders County District Court by the Montana Supreme Court, a jury trial date of July 14 was set by Judge Molly Owen during a status hearing on Tuesday. Wood was recently transported to the Sanders County Jail to be held pending trial.

William Lucas Wyatt was sentenced, per the plea agreement, for two felony cases relating to his role in the 2023 break-in at Top Shelf Botanicals dispensary in Plains. In DC 24-06, Wyatt was given a 6 year deferred sentence. In DC 24-08, he received a sentence to 180 days in the Sanders County Jail, with all suspended but 111 days to count II, as well as 180 days in the Sanders County Jail, with all suspended but 111 days for count III. Both of the counts in DC 24-08 are to run consecutively, but concurrently with the sentence in DC 24-06. Wyatt will receive credit for 111 days time served. Wyatt will also be liable both jointly and severally with the other co-defendants to pay $39,509 in restitution.

Appearing for a hearing on the merits, Justin John Mielke instead entered admissions to some of the counts alleged in the filed petition to revoke his probation. County Attorney Jania Hatfield advised Judge Owen that the parties had come to an agreement, with a deferred prosecution agreement being entered for Mielke’s pending felony case. Mielke has been successfully participating in the 20th Judicial District Court Drug Court, with Judge Owen sharing that Mielke has been doing extremely well in drug court and they have enjoyed getting to know him. Per the agreement between the parties, Mielke’s deferred sentence was re-deferred for a period of three years, with Mielke receiving credit for a total of 206 days of street time and 61 days time served with the same probation conditions and the requirement that he successfully complete drug court.

Tony M. Doyle entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, pursuant to a plea agreement between the parties. As Doyle is currently serving a sentence for two separate Lake County cases and the parties waived the need for a new presentence investigation report, the parties proceeded directly to sentencing. Doyle was sentenced to a three year Department of Corrections commitment, which will run concurrent to the Lake County cases, and will receive credit for time served of 67 days. Doyle was remanded to the custody of the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office for transport to the Department of Corrections.