Law enforcement and court records - March 6
*The following took place on Feb. 26.
-Michael Gardipee, 35, of Polson, came before the court to reverse a plea and admitted to charges of intimidation and assault linked to a Nov. 2013 shooting in Polson.
Two other individuals also face charges based on their alleged involvement in the incident that left a 29-year-old woman hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the leg. Alisha McDanal was arrested on the scene and charged with intimidation, while interviews in the ensuing investigation identified Nathan Bird as the alleged shooter.
Court documents indicate that the shooting victim told investigators that Gardipee had abused her outside of the apartment where the drama unfolded. Her claims of being repeatedly hit and kicked were consistent with the observations of responding officers, who noted that she “had a fat lip, a black eye and pattern injuries on her nose consistent with a shoe tread.”
A witness in a neighboring apartment unit reportedly saw Gardipee beating the victim. Upon being seen, Gardipee allegedly told the neighbor to “shut the door and not to call the police or he would kill her,” according to court records.
Court documents indicated that the misdemeanor assault charge facing Gardipee would be amended by the state.
Gardipee will be sentenced on April 2. He was ordered to contact Adult Parole and Probation immediately after Wednesday’s hearing to initiate a pre-sentence investigation.
-Addressing charges from four separate criminal cases, Jeremy Smithson, 28, of Polson, reached a plea agreement with state prosecutors.
Smithson pled no contest to felony drug charges as well as the alleged theft of a laptop.
An affidavit filed in court states that the drug charge stems from March 2012, officers responded to a reported altercation following an attempted drug deal in Polson and located Smithson shortly thereafter. Smithson consented to a search of his backpack, where an officer reportedly uncovered a marijuana pipe along with syringes and a spoon that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Then, in Feb. 2013, court documents state that Smithson was caught stealing laptops from a homeowner on Mountain View Road and drove away in a silver car, cutting across a field and crashing through a fence in the process. The car lost a license plate in the ordeal, which was later recovered in the field and linked to the getaway vehicle, according to court records.
Additionally, Smithson had a suspended six-year felony theft conviction from April 2013 revoked after reportedly committing a litany of probation violations, including possession of methamphetamine and alcohol and burglarizing a storage unit.
Lastly, a felony charge of alleged meth possession from Oct. 2012 was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Smithson will be sentenced for the matters on April 2.
Justice Court, Judge Jayne presiding
*The following took place from Feb. 21 to Feb. 27.
-Michael Kelly, 48. Reckless driving - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $235. 90 days in jail, all suspended.
-Randall Ingraham, 58. Cruelty to animals - overworking, beating, torturing, injuring, or killing the animal - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. 365 in jail, all suspended. Negligent endangerment (substantial risk - death/serious bodily injury), a misdemeanor. Fined $485. 365 days in jail, all suspended.
-Andrew Messick, 27. Speeding on non-interstate - exceed night limit of 65 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $40.
-Justin Montelius, 24. Speeding - exceeding restricted zone limit, a misdemeanor. Fined $65.
-Aaron Rasmussen, 18. Speeding - exceeding night limit of 65 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $70.
-Randall Mitchell, 57. Operating with expired registration - failure to re-register, a misdemeanor. Fined $85. Seatbelt violation, a misdemeanor. Fined $20.
-Jared Ross, 24. Careless driving, a misdemeanor. Fined $85.
-Reuben Creighton, 48. Speeding - exceeding restricted zone limit, a misdemeanor. Fined $55.
-Arnold Cardenas, 19. Speeding - exceeding day limit of 70 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $40. Failure to carry proof or exhibit insurance in vehicle - owner or operator - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. 10 days in jail, all suspended.
-Pailin Boonrit, 25. Speeding - exceeding day limit of 70 mph, a misdemeanor. Fined $20.
-Kristen Kleiv, 27. Operating without liability insurance in effect - first offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. 10 days in jail, all suspended.
-Jon Turner, 45. Speeding - exceeding restricted zone limit, a misdemeanor. Fined $95.
-Michael Spotorno, 46. Speeding - exceeding restricted zone limit, a misdemeanor. Fined $40.
-Todd Jordan, 30. Driving under the influence of alcohol ? third offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $1,085. 365 days in jail with 335 days suspended. Driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. 180 days in jail with 178 days suspended.
St. Ignatius City Court, Judge Richardson presiding
*The following took place from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28.
-Brian Kreps, 60. Local speed violation. Fined $50.
-Brina Sonju, 64. Operating with expired registration - failure to re-register. Fined $85.
-Tammie Washburn, 41. Traffic control device. Fined $50.
-Heidi Olson, 37. Local speed violation. Fined $75.
-Byron Bilbrey, 38. Local speed violation. Fined $75.
-Shea Fast, 42. Fined $50.
-Dulcinea Voermans, 35. Local speed violation. Fined $50.
-David McDaniel, 54. Local speed violation. Fined $75.
-Jon Wrede, 42. Driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked, a misdemeanor. Fined $285.
-Jennifer Dillard, 21. Owner permitting operation of vehicle without liability insurance - second offense, a misdemeanor. Fined $285. 10 days in jail, all suspended.
Marriages
Lois Bear – Lawrence Eslick; Lisa Wilhelm – Brad Love; Jessica Weber – Jesse Kuntz; Holly Cullinan – David Edmo; Cecilia Weatherwax – Anthony Irvine; Michelle Buxton – Oscar Garcia; Naomi Yarlott – Micahel Huguet
Divorces
Richard Randles – Karen Krystal; Wesley Miljes – Jessica Miljes (Lancaster restored); Christopher Bingham – Charmaine Curtis; Martin McDonald – Sara McDonald (Stonehocker restored)