Law enforcement and court records - Feb. 20

Charlo-Whitworth guilty on 3 of 4 counts

GREAT FALLS — As the Leader went to press on Tuesday, a Great Falls jury completed their deliberations and found 21-year-old Riley Charlo-Whitworth guilty of 3 out of 4 counts pertaining to the alleged assault of a toddler in Jan. 2013.

Charlo-Whitworth was found guilty of aggravated assault, criminal endangerment and assault on a minor. He was found not guilty to tampering with evidence. Charlo-Whitworth will be sentenced on Mar. 26.

The toddler, whose father lives in St. Ignatius, was flown to Seattle for medical treatment after reportedly sustaining life-threatening injuries in the incident. The child returned to his father’s care after being released from the Seattle hospital where he was taken.

-Leader staff

Polson child porn case headed to trial in June

MISSOULA — A Polson man charged with  operating a child pornography ring is set to be tried in U.S. District Court in Missoula this June.

Last summer Paul Wencewicz, then 47, was charged with child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to advertise child pornography and obstruction of justice.

If convicted on all counts, a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office stated that Wencewicz could face a combined penalty of 55 to 70 years or life in prison, $750,000 in fines and years of supervised release.

Wencewicz was originally charged along with three other men from Washington, Virginia and Oregon. Since that time, the case has expanded to include 14 individuals accused of involvement with the ring.

-Leader staff

District Court, Judge Christopher presiding

*The following took place on Feb. 13.

-Carla Goodwin, 31 reached a plea agreement and admitted to committing a felony drug charge and misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and operating a motor vehicle as a “habitual traffic offender.”

Court documents state that in December 2012, Goodwin was pulled over near Ninepipes Lodge for a suspected DUI. Goodwin, who was driving on a revoked license and had been identified as a “habitual traffic offender”, failed numerous field sobriety tests. Additionally, a search of her vehicle and belongings allegedly revealed marijuana, two bags containing a white, powdery residue, and various pills. Her blood tested positive for marijuana, methamphetamine and the dangerous drug, alprazolam.

Goodwin is to be sentenced on Mar. 20.

-After pleading guilty last month, Philip Friscia, 27, of Polson, was given a suspended three-year sentence for a felony drug charge dating to an Oct. 2012 arrest.

Court records indicate that Friscia was being arrested on an outstanding warrant when officers found drug paraphernalia in his property. A small wrapper was also discovered that contained a substance identified as methamphetamine by a field test.

Friscia had spent 68 days in jail leading up to sentencing, and will be subjected to random tests to determining if he has relapsed.

-Pursuant to a plea agreement, Robert Wyman, 66, was issued a suspended one-year sentenced to the Lake County Jail (LCJ), with an additional two-year deferred sentence running concurrently. Wyman had faced charges of partner or family member assault and a felony drug distribution.

Court documents state that in June 2011, Wyman pointed a .357 revolver at his wife and threatened to kill her. He then beat her, causing a black eye and bruising, and again threatened to kill her if she notified the police. His wife successfully contacted a friend, who called police, and officers arrested Wyman on the scene. During the arrest, officers also located several marijuana plants that Wyman admitted to growing.

Wyman was jailed and his wife was issued an order of protection. In June 2013, Wyman was released from jail and records state that he called his wife twice and left “a threatening voicemail message demanding that she bring him ‘my weed’ or he would call the cops.” The calls violated the order of protection and Wyman was again arrested.

District Court, Judge Manley presiding

*The following took place on Feb. 12.

-After failing to appear for two previous arraignment hearings, Christopher Ochs entered a plea of not guilty in response to a felony charge of aggravated assault and misdemeanor charges of partner or family member assault, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol while under the age of 21.

The charges stem from an incident on Dec. 19, when court documents indicate that law enforcement responded to a reported assault on Cold Creek Lane in St. Ignatius. Records state that Ochs “has a history of assaulting his mother and twin brother and running from law enforcement.” Ochs’ mother told responding officers of an altercation earlier that evening, in which the defendant allegedly slashed furniture and kitchen cupboards with a knife and box cutter and threatened to kill her if she notified police.

The defendant was located in his bedroom, where drugs and alcohol (including a marijuana grow operation in the closet) were located. Ochs was a minor at the time of the incident, so a juvenile probation officer was notified of his citations. He was later taken to the Missoula County Detention Facility.

Ochs will next appear in court for an omnibus hearing on Mar. 19, with a jury trial set to commence on May 19.

Justice Court, Judge Jayne presiding

*The following took place between Feb. 7 and Feb. 13.

-Jeffrey Lubeck, 56. Speeding - exceeding day limit of 65 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $40.

-Jose Gonzalez, 22. Speeding - exceeding restricted zone limit, a misdemeanor. Fined $65.

-Kyler Rutz, 21. Possessing intoxicating substances while under the age of 21 - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $185.

-Patrick Hahn, 29. Operating with alcohol concentration of 0.08% BAC or greater - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $435. 180 days in jail with 180 days suspended.

-Frank Dykstra, 61. Driving under the influence of alcohol - second offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $485. 180 days in jail with 19 days suspended.

-Mark Iavicoli, 49. Speeding - exceeding day limit of 70 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $20.

-Jake Sweeney, 24. Operating snowmobile on public land without registration or registration decal displayed, a misdemeanor. Fined $85.

-Jennifer Thomas, 46. Violation of DFWP rules and regulations, a misdemeanor. Fined $85.

-Sahriha Camacho, 18. Possessing intoxicating substances while under the age of 21 - second offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. Driving without a valid drivers license, a misdemeanor. Fined $135. 180 days in jail with 179 days suspended.

-Benjamin Meafua, 19. Driving without a valid license, a misdemeanor. Fined $85. 180 days in jail, all suspended.

-Christy Tomma, 39. Operating without liability insurance in effect - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. 10 days in jail, all suspended.

-Johanna Lien, 18. Speeding - exceeding night limit of 65 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $20.

-Kathleen Smith, 48. Failure to carry proof or exhibit insurance in vehicle - owner or operator - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. 10 days in jail, all suspended.

-Spencer Fulk, 19. Speeding - exceeding day limit of 70 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $40.

-Bram O’Dell, 26. Stop sign violation, a misdemeanor. Fined $85.

-Scott Jennison, 25. Speeding - exceeding restricted zone limit, a misdemeanor. Fined $65.