Courts

Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

Lozeau pleads guilty to criminal endangerment

POLSON — A Ronan woman has admitted to her involvement in an apparent road rage incident. Anjelica Dawn Lozeau, 28, entered a plea of guilty at District Court in Polson Feb. 9 to the amended charge of felony criminal endangerment. She was initially charged with felony assault with a weapon.

According to court records, on Oct. 24, 2021 a woman called law enforcement to report she had just been rear-ended by another vehicle and was threatened by the driver of that vehicle with a hatchet. The woman told responding officers that she was driving down Polson Hill on U.S. Highway 93 when another motorist approached at a high rate of speed and hit her car. She said she pulled over to speak with the person driving the vehicle that struck hers. That’s when the other motorist, later identified as Lozeau, allegedly held a hatchet out her window and said, “I will kill you, you white bitch.” The woman reporting the incident said she was scared. Lozeau took off in her car but was followed by the alleged victim to an apartment complex in Polson. When Police arrived Lozeau admitted to holding the hatchet and threatening the other driver. Police recovered a hatchet from Lozeau’s vehicle.

Judge James Manley set sentencing for March 30.

Grandchamp accused of felony criminal possession

POLSON — A Polson woman is accused of attempting to use drugs in front of a child in a car. Ashley Renee Grandchamp, 28, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson Feb. 9 to felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

According to court records, on Jan. 6 a law enforcement officer observed occupants of a vehicle in the parking lot of a grocery store in Pablo engaged in what looked like a hand-to-hand drug transaction. The officer moved in for a closer look and could see a person inside a silver Mercedes Benz. The person was holding a piece of tinfoil with a blue pill on it. The officer could see the occupant of the passenger seat was reclined and about to use a lighter to heat the pill to emit vapors to inhale. The officer also noticed two other people in the car, a six-year-old child and the mother of that child. The officer stopped the passenger, later identified as Grandchamp, before she could ingest the vapors. After being advised of her rights, Grandchamp allegedly admitted that she was about to do drugs with the child in the car.

Judge James Manley set a trial date of July 18. Grandchamp is at liberty with a condition for drug compliance monitoring.

Hayes accused of sixth DUI

POLSON — A Ronan man stands accused of DUI number six. James Gilbert Hayes, 53, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson Feb. 10 to felony DUI fourth or subsequent.

According to court records, on Nov. 30, 2021, a law enforcement officer heard a vehicle with its engine revving near Anchor Way by the junction of U.S. Highway 93 and State Highway 35 in Polson. Upon further investigation, the officer located a Ford Ranger in the middle of the road with Hayes sitting in the driver seat. A witness to the engine revving said he was almost struck by the Ford Ranger. The officer had Hayes exit his vehicle. Hayes was observed staggering and almost lost his balance, prompting an investigation. Hayes was allowed to relieve himself during the investigation but then became argumentative. He allegedly started using profanity and saying things about President Biden. Hayes refused a preliminary breath test. Results of a blood draw show Hayes had a blood alcohol content of .388.

Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set a trial date of May 9. Hayes remains at liberty with conditions that include alcohol monitoring.

Cruz pleads guilty to assaulting father

POLSON — Sentencing has been set for March 30 for a Polson man who admitted to assaulting his 70-year-old father. Eric Brian Cruz, 49, entered a plea of guilty at District Court in Polson Feb. 9 to felony partner or family member assault, third or subsequent offense. Eric Cruz

According to records, on Dec. 29, 2021, Polson Police were called to a report that a man had been assaulted by his son. Officers spoke to the victim who stated that he suspected his son of drinking alcohol, so he put marks on bottles to gauge what was missing. He said when he confronted his son about it, his son pushed him down the stairs. The victim had injuries consistent with falling down stairs. Records show Cruz has two prior convictions for PFMA in the state of California, making the third a felony.

District Judge James Manley ordered a pre-sentence investigation when he set the sentencing date.

Matt sentenced for sixth DUI

POLSON — A Ronan man who has five prior convictions for DUIs was sentenced at District in Polson Feb. 10 for DUI number six. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher sentenced Earl Matt Jr., 47, to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years with all but two days jail time suspended.

According to court records, on Nov. 16, 2020, Matt was observed traveling 57 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone on U.S. Highway 93 in Polson, which prompted a traffic stop by law enforcement. The traffic stop turned into a DUI investigation the ultimately led to a conviction. Records show Matt with DUI convictions in 1998, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Matt was also ordered to pay fines and fees that total $5,710, but Judge Christopher suspended $5,500 from that total under the condition that Matt successfully complete any court ordered programs.

Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

Darling pleads not guilty to criminal possession

POLSON — A Missoula man is accused of dealing drugs in Lake County. Samuel Alvin Darling, 47, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson Feb. 9 to two counts of criminal possession with intent to distribute and use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture.

According to the charging documents, Darling was found in possession of 18 grams of methamphetamine on April 11, 2020. Darling was also charged with criminal possession with intent to distribute after the vehicle he

was in on July 25, 2020 was searched after it was stopped for an expired registration. The searched turned up three baggies of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The search also turned up a bank document showing a $50,000 with draw from a bank in Missoula. Samuel Darling Darling was also found driving a 1956 Ford truck on July 28, 2020 that was purchased that day for $41,000. A search of it turned up three grams of methamphetamine. The truck is subject to seizure. Judge James Manley set a trial date of July 18. The Lake County jail roster shows Darling being held without bail.

Meet...

Betty White

This is Betty White! She is 12 weeks old. She is a very sweet energetic lab/boxer cross.

contact Mission Valley Animal Shelter call 883-5312

or visit our Facebook page!

Pet of the Week

Betty White

Sponsored by Bishop Insurance

Polson: 302 1st St. W. Ste. 102 • 883-5372 Ronan: 209 Main Street SW • 676-5300 bishopinsurance.com

News from the offices of Senator Tester and Senator Daines

U.S. SENATE — After strong pushback from U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines, the Internal Revenue Service today announced it would reverse its decision to require taxpayers to provide facial recognition data through a third party vendor to access some tax services. Instead, the IRS announced it would work toward providing an alternative form of verification.

“This was a bad idea from the beginning, and I’m being very generous when I say ‘bad idea,’” said Tester. “The IRS has absolutely no business requiring facial recognition software on anything, but especially not when it comes to allowing Montana taxpayers to access services. This is the kind of garbage that drives me crazy, and I will be holding the IRS’s feet to the fire to make sure they follow through on their commitment to drop the required use of facial recognition data.”

Daines issued the following statement:

“This was a terrible and invasive idea from the get-go that would’ve put taxpayers’ privacy and identities at risk. Montanans shouldn’t have to provide biometric data to access their own tax info. Glad the IRS listened to my concerns and backed down from this absurd plan.”

In a letter to the IRS, Senator Tester raised serious concerns about requiring taxpayers to provide facial recognition data through a third-party vendor to access government services:

“I’m deeply troubled by recent reports suggesting the IRS is considering using facial recognition to access online accounts though its private contractor ID.me,” Tester wrote. “While I recognize the importance of cybersecurity and identity verification, I strongly believe using facial recognition is an unnecessary privacy violation. That’s why I urge you to consider alternative methods to secure online accounts.”

“This was a terrible and invasive idea from the get-go that would’ve put taxpayers’ privacy and identities at risk. Montanans shouldn’t have to provide biometric data to access their own tax info. Glad the IRS listened to my concerns & backed down from this absurd plan,” Daines said.

“This is the kind of garbage that drives me crazy...” - U.S. Senator Jon Tester

883-8970

APPLIANCE CARE

Covering the vast majority of Lake County.

15 years experience.

Local, factory-authorized, in-home repairs.

Servicing all brands, makes of residential appliances.

Call Sam Allred for reliable quality work.

406-883-3904

P.O. Box 343, Polson NOW RELOCATED Call for SERVICE