Sentencing deferred for car theft

The imposition of sentencing was deferred for a total of five years in Polson District Court Nov. 15 for a man accused of stealing a vehicle.

J. Lee Ernest Anderson, 25, entered a plea of guilty Oct. 4 to felony charges of theft, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and bail jumping. The guilty pleas were entered as part of an agreement that dismisses two counts of drug possession and one bail-jumping charge.

According to court records, on Aug. 27, 2022, a woman contacted law enforcement to report her 2015 Chevy Equinox was missing from her St. Ignatius residence. It was located in Ronan later that day and four people at that location were questioned by investigators.

The passenger who accompanied Anderson to the Ronan location was apparently attempting to sell the Equinox for thousands of dollars less than it’s estimated value. That raised concerns from the prospective buyer that the Equinox may have been stolen. The registered owner of the Equinox did not give anyone permission to sell the vehicle.

Upon arrest, Anderson was searched and found to be in possession of a syringe loaded with heroin. He was already facing two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs for possessing methamphetamine and the narcotic Buprenorphine.

The bail-jumping charges stem from missing court appearances on the initial charges. Judge Molly Owen gave Anderson credit for time served, which was 63 days at the time of sentencing.