Ronan man adds escape to drug charges

A Ronan man, being held at the Lake County Jail on multiple drug charges, is now accused with attempting to escape custody. Kurtis William Snell, 34, pled not guilty to felony escape in District Court in Polson on Dec. 4.

According to charging documents, on Nov. 13, a detention officer at the jail escorted Snell to St. Joseph Medical Center. While there, Snell was allowed to use the restroom when he allegedly was able to escape. He was arrested about a block west of the hospital within minutes and taken into custody.

Judge Molly Owen tentatively set the case for trial on May 5, 2025. Snell’s public defender, Dustin Allen, was granted a request to continue all matters to Dec. 11, to possibly resolve them without going to trial.