Ronan man avoids jail in sentencing

RONAN — Marvin Camel, Jr. of Ronan was in court July 25 for sentencing on two separate charges being tried under Judge McNeil. He was given suspended sentences for both felony sexual assault and for assault on a minor.

The first charge was for the amended offense of sexual assault, a felony. According to court documents on Jan. 22, 2009, Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Tara Ewers responded to St. Luke’s Hospital where she contacted a patient who stated that she had been raped by Marvin Camel, the defendant.

According to court documents, the victim said that she had been at the Pablo Bar with a friend and that they got a ride with the defendant with the intention of going to a party.

At some point the victim’s friend accused the defendant of being lost and he agreed to take them home. The defendant took the friend home and was supposed to take the victim home, but according to court documents the defendant stopped on a secluded dark road.

The victim went on to state that the defendant tried to kiss her. The victim pushed the defendant away, but stated she was afraid of what the defendant would do if she resisted too much.Then according to court documents, the defendant raped the victim.

After some time the defendant stopped. The victim then fled from the vehicle and eventually made it to a residence where she called the police. The victim was then transported to the St. Luke’s Hospital for a sexual assault examination.

Flathead Tribal Police Officer Don Bell responded to the home of the defendant immediately upon receiving the complaint and arrested the defendant. Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Dan Yonkin received consent from the defendant to take a DNA sample. During the process the defendant stated, “nothing happened.” After the swabs from the sexual assault examination and swabs from the defendant were submitted to the Forensic Science Division of the Department of Justice , the swabs were analyzed for DNA. The analysis of the DNA swab determined the victim’s DNA was present on the defendant’s body, according to court documents.

On Dec. 23,2009, the defendant agreed to a voluntary interview with Detective Yonkin. During the interview the Defendant admitted being in the vehicle with the victim and that they may have kissed, but maintained that nothing sexual happened between the defendant and the victim. The original charge was sexual intercourse without consent, a felony.

The defendant took the plea agreement and pled guilty to the amended offense of sexual assault, a felony. The defendant is sentenced to 2 years suspended, according to court documents.

The second case against Marvin Camel Jr. occurred on May 20,2011 when Flathead Tribal Police Officer Steve Raymond responded to a residence in Charlo, where Officer Raymond met the five-year-old victim.

Earlier in the evening the victim’s mother has given a ride to the defendant, who sat in the backseat with the victim. The defendant then started playing “very roughly” holding the victim’s hands and hitting him against the window.

According to court documents the defendant then began choking the victim. While the victim was struggling to breath and was gasping for air, the mother begged for the defendant to stop. Then the defendant bit the victim’s arm.The victim told Officer Raymond that the defendant hurt him and Officer Raymond observed red scratch marks on the victim’s neck and a bite mark on his arm.

The defendant pled guilty to the charge of assault of a minor, a felony. The court commits the defendant to the DOC for a period of five years all suspended but time served.

According to court documents the defendant’s sentences for the separate charges will run consecutive.