Trial for Sunny White moved to September

A Butte woman, accused of striking and killing Mika Westwolf, has had her May 6 trial date pushed back to Sept. 30. The continuance was requested by Meghan Benson of Missoula, the public defender representing Sunny Katherinne White.

White is charged with accidents involving another person or deceased person, 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, 2023, 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. Haynes said he “observed vehicle debris and a body lying next to the fog line.”

The victim, later identified as Mika Westwolf of Arlee, 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, with front-end damage and missing a passenger-side rearview mirror, parked north of Polson. 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 2 and 4. 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.

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 data, 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, 2023, on a warrant from Lake County with bond set at $200,000. She posted bond that day.

In requesting the trial date, Benson indicated to Judge Molly Owen her intentions to file two motions, but did not specify on what grounds. White’s next court appearance is set for April 10. She remains at liberty on the previously posted bond.