Adams pleads guilty to strangulation, drug possession

Kielon James Adams, 27 of Ronan, entered a plea of guilty in Polson District Court Oct. 18 to felony charges of strangulation of a partner or family member and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

The plea was entered as part of an agreement that dismisses a second drug possession charge. It also calls for a five-year suspended commitment to the Montana Department of Corrections, according to Deputy Lake County Attorney Lori Adams. Judge Molly Owen is presiding and is not bound to the agreement.

According to charging documents, on June 25, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence in St. Ignatius.

At the scene, the alleged victim stated that she and Adams had been together for four years and share a child together. She said that morning her and Adams got into an argument and she attempted to grab their child and leave. As she made her way towards the child, Adams allegedly shoved her to the ground. She said she got up and Adams pushed her again, this time with her falling into some boxes.

She also claimed Adams hit her with an open hand. She eventually made her way out of the residence, as Adams began throwing some of her belongings outside. She said she went back inside the residence to get their child and Adams allegedly grabbed her by the neck and put her in a choke-hold. She said she became dizzy.

The responding deputy observed bruising on the woman’s right elbow, stomach and on the left side of her neck. The deputy also observed that the right side of her face, near her eye, was beginning to bruise.

Adams was already facing two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, specifically possessing heroin and methamphetamine. That stemmed from a traffic stop for expired registration on Sept. 6, 2019.

Judge Owen set a sentencing date of Dec. 6. Adams remains in the Lake County Jail with bond set at $20,000 on the strangulation charge.