Lake County sex offender set to stand trial in March, 2018

A Lake County man will face trial after he pleaded not guilty to a charge stemming from an arrest in Polson last month.

Wesley Joseph Bartell, 21, was arrested on Sept. 27 due to being within 300 feet of a daycare as well as residing in a house where a minor lives. He is a level-three registered sexual offender, according to the Department of Justice website.

A jury trial for Bartell is scheduled for March 5, 2018.

According to court documents, Bartell has been charged with five counts of failure to follow the geographic restriction applicable to high-risk sexual offenders.

The felony carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and $50,000 in fines.

Court documents state that Bartell registered as a sexual offender with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 25, 2016, listing his mother’s Polson address as his residence.

On Dec. 7, 2016, law enforcement performed a compliance check on Wesley and discovered he was living within 300 feet of a registered daycare provider. That same day, he was located at the Polson address and was advised he had to move within 10 days.

It was also discovered during the compliance check that there were at least two children under the age of 12 living at the residence. Records state that both Bartell and his mother were “verbally abusive and uncooperative” with law enforcement during the check.

On Dec. 15, 2016, Wesley changed his address to another location in Polson. During that time, he “made it clear” to officials that he believed he should not have to register nor should he comply with the registration laws.

On Sept. 12, 2017, Bartell arrived at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to have an address verification letter notarized and sent to the state, as required by law, court documents show.

He provided another address in Polson.

On Sept. 19, law enforcement “physically confirmed” the address was within 300 feet of a registered daycare provider.

Law enforcement advised Bartell he was not allowed to live at that residence and was told he must move by 12 p.m. on Sept. 21.

On Sept. 20, law enforcement conducted another compliance check to confirm if Bartell had moved. Law enforcement contacted the other resident of that address, who informed officials that Bartell was “kicked out of the residence the night before” on Sept. 19, because he had not informed other residents he was a sexual offender.

The resident informed law enforcement that Bartell was initially allowed to live there because he was dating the resident’s granddaughter, but the resident said that in the few days Bartell stayed, he “trashed” the residence.

The resident shared that both Bartell and the granddaughter were taken to Bartell’s mother’s house in Polson. Law enforcement arrived at Bartell’s mother’s house to investigate, and made contact with his mother. She told officials that Bartell was visiting.

Bartell came to the door and said he was visiting, not breaking any laws. He added he was transient and that he “sleeps on anyone’s couch,” court documents state.

On Sept. 21, law enforcement spoke with Bartell’s mother in Polson, who advised detectives that Bartell was living with her father in St. Ignatius. Detectives drove to the residence made contact with Bartell’s grandfather who confirmed that Bartell moved in the day before.

At 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 27, law enforcement drove back to St. Ignatius, where Bartell was registered. Bartell’s grandfather informed detectives that Bartell did not stay at the St. Ignatius residence that night and he was at his mother’s house in Polson. The grandfather also shared that Bartell’s girlfriend drives a red car.

At 8 a.m. that same morning, law enforcement arrived at Bartell’s mother’s house in Polson. She answered the door, telling detectives that Bartell was at the St. Ignatius residence.

Detectives informed her that they were just there, and they were told Bartell was at her residence in Polson. They also pointed out the red car that didn’t appear to have been recently used, as it was covered in morning dew.

Bartell’s mother told detectives that his girlfriend lived at the residence as well as four juveniles, but her son did not. His mother went to retrieve Bartell’s girlfriend, who then spoke with the detectives, telling them she had dropped Bartell off at a friend’s house.

Detectives, believing Bartell was in the house, sought a warrant to search for Bartell. During the search that was conducted when law enforcement returned, Bartell was located in the basement and placed under arrest.