Sunny White makes first court appearance

The arraignment hearing for a Butte woman accused of hitting and killing an Arlee woman with her Cadillac Escalade has been continued to Nov. 8. Judge Molly Owen continued the case on Oct. 25 at the request of Sterling Lauden, the managing attorney for the Lake County Public Defender’s Office.

Sunny Kathrinne White, 28, is charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence, or in the alternative, negligent homicide; knowingly failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving another person, and failing to render aid or remain at the scene; two counts of criminal child endangerment; and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, all felonies. The five charges carry a combined maximum of 65 years in prison.

According to court records, on March 31 shortly after 4 a. m., Officer T. J. Haynes with the Flathead Tribal Police, was traveling on U. S. Highway 93 just north of Arlee “when he observed vehicle debris and a body lying next to the fog line.” The victim, later identified as Arlee resident Mika Westwolf, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on the debris field, it was determined that the suspect vehicle was possibly gold in color. A little over an hour later, a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a 2008 Cadillac Escalade parked north of Polson with front-end damage and missing a passenger-side rearview mirror.

The deputy observed White moving items from the Escalade into another vehicle. White told the deputy that her vehicle was overheating. She also indicated that she had hit a deer and didn’t stop, although she wasn’t sure where the deer collision occurred.

There were two children in the car, ages two and four. White claimed she was passing a bottle to the younger child when she struck the deer. She also explained that she was traveling from Butte to Kalispell.

The Montana Highway Patrol took over the investigation and had the Escalade towed to a secure facility. Investigators were able to obtain phone records and video surveillance from area businesses. Using that date, it was determined that White left Butte after midnight and drove through “Missoula around 2:45 a. m. and was at the scene of the crash” where the body was found, “at exactly 3:00 a.m.”

A search of the Escalade turned up methamphetamine, five syringes and two unopened packages of Narcan. A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw from White. The results indicated fentanyl and methamphetamine were in her system.

White was arrested in Kalispell on Oct. 20 on a warrant from Lake County with bond set at $200,000. White posted bond that day and was ordered to appear in Polson District Court Oct. 25. However, the case was continued to Nov. 8 to give the public defender’s office time to appoint counsel to White, who remains at liberty after posting bond.