Law enforcement and court records

Lake County District Court, Judge McNeil presiding

*The following district court proceeding took place Nov. 17.

-State of Montana vs. Nathaniel Eppinette; 28. The matter before the Court is change of plea. Defendant admits committing the amended offense of partner or family member assault, first offense, a misdemeanor, and enters an Alford plea. The Court makes its findings, accepts the plea and finds the Defendant guilty of the charge. Count II is ordered dismissed. The parties agree there is no need for PSI as the charge is now a misdemeanor. The parties are prepared for sentencing. The Court sentences Defendant to the LCJ for one year with all suspended but time served to date.

Lake County District Court, Judge

Christopher

presiding

*The following district court proceedings took place Nov. 18.

-State of Montana vs. Alex Jungwirth; 26. The matter before the Court is arraignment. Ready to enter plea, Defendant pleads not guilty to the charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, Count I, a felony, criminal possession of dangerous drugs, Count II, a misdemeanor and habitual traffic offender operating a motor vehicle, Count III, a misdemeanor. The plea is entered and the case will be set for trial. The Court sets this matter for omnibus hearing on Jan. 13, 2011 at 9 a.m. Jury trial is set for March 7, 2011.

-State of Montana vs. Brent M. Lemler; 21. The matter before the Court is sentencing. For the offense of burglary, a felony, the Court defers the sentence for a period of three years.

-State of Montana vs. Ben Hoffman IV; 34. The matter before the Court is sentencing. For the offense of issuing a bad check, a common scheme, a felony, the Court commits the Defendant to the DOC for a period of eight years, with all that time suspended. The sentence in this matter shall run consecutive to the sentence in the case out of Flathead County, DC-07-457B.

-State of Montana vs. Bruce Plouffe; 46. The matter before the Court is arraignment. Ready to enter plea, Defendant pleads not guilty to the charge of operation of noncommercial vehicle by person with alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The plea is entered and the case will be set for trial. The Court notes that omnibus hearing is still set for Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. Jury trial is set for Feb. 7, 2011.

-State of Montana vs. Gyme D. Kelly, 54. The matter before the Court is adjudicatory hearing in DC-04-86 and chance of plea in DC-10-42. Attorney Ben Anciaux indicates the Defendant intends to plead guilty without a plea agreement in DC-10-42 and admitting allegations involved in DC-04-86. The Defendant enters his plea of guilty in DC-10-42 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth or subsequent offense, a felony. The Court finds the State provided sufficient evidence to support the petition and revokes the Defendant’s deferred sentence in DC-04-86. Sentencing in these matters is set for DC. 23 at 9 a.m.

-State of Montana vs. Kalem Jay Branson; 29. The matters before the Court are sentencing on revocation in DC-06-50 and sentencing in DC-10-27, DC-10-32, and DC-10-130. In DC-06-50, the Defendant’s sentence is revoked and for the offense of criminal endangerment, a felony, the Court commits the Defendant to the Department of Corrections for a term of 10 years with five years suspended. In DC-10-27, for the offense of deceptive practices, common scheme, a felony, Count I, the Defendant is committed to the Department of Corrections for a term of 10 years with all that time suspended and is to run consecutive to the sentence imposed in DC-06-50. In DC-10-32, for the offense of forgery, a misdemeanor, the Defendant is sentenced to six months in the LCJ with all that time suspended and is to run concurrent to the sentence imposed in DC-10-27 and DC-06-50. In DC-10-130, for the offense of aggravated assault, a felony, Count I, the Defendant is sentenced to the LCJ for a term of one year with all that time suspended but time served and for the offense of criminal endangerment, a felony, Count II, the Defendant is sentenced to the LCJ for a term of one year with all that time suspended but time served. Count II shall run consecutive to Count I and consecutive to the sentence in DC-06-50, DC-10-27 and DC-10-32.

Ronan City Court, Judge Bartels

presiding

*The following city court proceedings took place Nov. 9-23.

-Arestad, Ian; 25. Unlawful transactions with children. Fined $100 and six months in jail with six months suspended.

-Miller, Beau; 22. Theft - first offense. Fined $100 and six months in jail with six months suspended.

-Bolen, Comfort T.; 32. Driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked. Fined $250 and 180 days in jail with 178 suspended. Reckless driving. Fined $300.

-Greer, Kathern S.; 62. Reckless driving. Fined $300.

-Rasmussen, Brandie J.; 27. Driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked. Fined $500 and 180 days in jail with 178 days suspended.

-Dunkerson, Kendal; 20. Operating without liability insurance in effect - first offense. Fined $350 and 10 days in jail with eight days suspended.

Booked into

county jail

*Editor’s note: The following people were booked into the county jail from Nov. 17-23, but in most cases have not had a chance to enter a plea. They are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

-Grahm, Jim G.; 53. Arrested on site for possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.

-Gilroy Jr., Bruce D.; 48. Arrested on site for partner or family member assault - minor injured/physical contact, a misdemeanor.

Released from

county jail

-Trott, Tara M.; 23. Arrested on site for no liability insurance, a violation; and driving while suspended or revoked, a violation.