Fleming will be tried in District Court

Isaac Fleming will be tried in District  Court before Lake County District Judge James A. Manley, according to court documents.

Fleming, 17 of Ronan, faces four felony charges related to the shooting of a Pablo woman Dec. 14.

Fleming’s transfer hearing and arraignment, originally scheduled for Jan. 21, was held Jan. 20 after Manley took over for Lake County District Court Judge Deborah Kim Christopher, who holds court Thursdays.

Fleming’s defense attorney, Robert Long requested Christopher’s removal on Jan. 13.

At the Jan. 20 hearing Long waived Fleming’s transfer to youth court and stood beside him as Fleming pleaded not guilty to the four felony charges.

Fleming was charged with felony aggravated burglary, felony assault and two counts of felony aggravated burglary. His omnibus hearing is scheduled for March 30 and his trial is scheduled for May 2.

He is housed at Lake County Detention Center in Polson. 

Fleming was arrested on Christmas Day and is accused of playing an integral role in the circumstances that ended in the shooting of Karen Finley of Pablo.

Prosecutors believe that the criminal trouble began Dec. 13 when Fleming went to the same home to visit his girlfriend.

During their visit, a fight broke out between the two teens. Fleming was asked to leave by Matthew Hawkins, a resident of the house. Once outside the house, prosecutors believe that Fleming, who was in possession of a gun, fired two shots at Hawkins.  Fleming missed both times.

Hawkins later told authorities that he saw the muzzle of the gun and its flash, a Lake County Court affidavit said. When law enforcement officers arrived on scene, they found two spent shell casings in the area.

The next day authorities allege that Fleming returned to his girlfriend’s house in a vehicle with Ashley Rae Hewankorn as a passenger and Charlene Hewankorn as the driver.

“All three got out and approached the residence,” an affidavit documenting Charlene Hewankorn’s role in the alleged crime said. “Ashley and Charlene occupied Hawkins while Fleming entered through the front door.”

Hawkins broke away from the two women, however and entered the residence from the back door.

Hawkins and Fleming met in the hall and began to fight, Fleming’s affidavit said.

Hawkins tried to grab the gun but Fleming passed it to Ashley Hewankorn instead.

“Hawkins slung the defendant, who hit Hawkins in the head,” the affidavit said.

Hawkins grabbed a hammer after Fleming and Hewankorn fled the hallway and climbed in their vehicle.

Hawkins pursued the pair and broke the suspect’s car window, the affidavit said.

“Ashley Hewankorn jumped out of the vehicle with the gun and pointed it at Hawkins,” the affidavit said. 

When Karen Finley, who is Fleming’s girlfriend’s mother, came out of her house and yelled at Ashley Hewankorn, the accused assailant turned, pointed the gun at Finley and fired, the records said.

The three suspects fled the scene in their car. Charlene Hewankorn was arrested Dec. 14. Ashley Hewankorn was arrested Dec. 18 and Fleming was arrested Dec. 25.

Finley’s current trial schedule includes a projected omnibus hearing on March 17; a status conference on April 14 and a jury trial on May 23.