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menting campus-specific security and safety policies is “germane and necessary” to the board exercising constitutional authority. As McKinnon wrote, “while the mission of the Board is education, the reality is that campus safety and security is an integral responsibility of the Board and its mission.” Kyler Nerison, a spokesperson for Knudsen’s office, criticized the supreme court’s decision in an emailed statement Wednesday. “House Bill 102 was an historic expansion of Montanans’ rights and their ability to defend themselves,” Nerison wrote. “As the court notes in its opinion, being sheltered within a ‘gun-free zone’ hasn’t prevented students from being murdered on university campuses in Montana. The Montana Supreme Court’s decision today relegates university students and employees to second-class citizens, putting their rights and safety at the whims of an unelected governmental body that now has veto power over state laws it disagrees with.” The court’s opinion cited two previous cases involving on-campus gun deaths in Montana: the 1990 killing of two students in a Montana State University dorm and a 1990 shooting at Helena’s private Carroll College that resulted in the death of one campus employee. Asked whether Knudsen intends to appeal Wednesday’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, Nerison wrote that his office is “considering our options.” As for the legislative branch, Berglee said he doesn’t see that the court “left any open area for the Legislature to be involved in this conversation.”
vj
courts Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal
Cox pleads not guilty to rape POLSON — A Charlo man is accused of offering a hitchhiker a ride from Ronan to St. Ignatius and raping her during the trip. Louis Allen Cox, 29, entered a plea of not guilty at DisLouis Cox trict Court in Polson on June 30 to one count of sexual intercourse without consent. According to court records, on Sept. 11, 2021, St. Ignatius Police Officer Jessie Girsch
responded to a gas station in St. Ignatius on a report of a woman that had possibly been raped. At the scene a Jane Doe reported that she was hitchhiking from Ronan to St. Ignatius when she was allegedly picked up by a man driving a black truck that had the logo “plow-3” on the side. She said once she got in the truck the driver turned onto a gravel road, possibly Lake McDonald Road, then stopped and allegedly raped her. She indicated that he also choked her during the alleged assault. When the alleged assault was over Jane Doe was dropped off at the gas station. Jane Doe
alerted the station’s cashier prompting the call to police. Officer Girsch observed marks on Jane Doe’s neck. She described the suspect as being approximately 30 years old. Doe agreed to a forensic interview which was conducted by investigators in Missoula that specialize in sexual assaults. Meanwhile, Lake County Sheriff ’s and St. Ignatius Police were able to identify Cox as the registered owner of the suspect’s truck. The truck with the “plow3” logo was located in Charlo along with Cox. When questioned by law enforcement Cox admitted to giving Jane Doe a
Moore sentenced for negligent homicide POLSON — A Marion woman convicted of causing a fatal crash in a stolen car was sentenced at District Court in Polson on June 30 to a total of 18 years in the Montana State Women’s prison with 10 years suspended. Lease Sierra Moore, 19, entered a plea of guilty on April 7 to felony negligent homicide and no contest to felony theft. Moore received 15 years prison for the negligent homicide charge with 10 suspended, and a straight three years for the theft charge. The guilty plea was entered before Judge John Larson who appeared remotely from Missoula. According to court records, on September 30, 2020, emergency services were paged out to the report of a fatal car wreck along U. S. Highway 93 in Pablo. Several witnesses at the scene told investigators that they saw a small white car pass them at a high rate of speed while weaving through traffic. The white car was seen running a red light at the intersection with Clairmont Road before hitting a vehicle that was turning onto U.
S. Highway 93. That vehicle was hit with such force that its driver was thrown out. The driver was transported to St. Patricks’ Hospital in Missoula where she later died. The driver of the white car was identified as Moore. The white car she was driving was a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. It had been reported stolen from the parking lot of The Blue and White Motel in Kalispell early that morning. An investigation of the scene showed the Alero left a skid mark that measured 172 feet long. Internal data of the Alero showed it was traveling 98 miles per hour prior to breaking and was likely traveling about 65 miles per hour at the time of impact. The data corroborated witness accounts of the crash. Clothing worn by Moore matched the clothing of the suspect seen in video surveillance at The Blue and White Motel stealing that car. Judge John Larson, appearing again remotely from Missoula, gave Moore credit for already serving 346 days in custody.
Valley Journal
ride to St. Ignatius and dropping her off at the gas station, but denied assaulting her. Cox did agree to a DNA testing. The DNA match was far enough over being one in a trillion that charges were filed against Cox. Judge Karen Townsend set a trial date of Sept. 26. Judge Karen Townsend was brought in, after three years of retirement, to fill in for Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher. Judge Townsend indicated in court that Judge Christopher is expected to return to the bench July 18. Judge Townsend’s last day on the bench is expected to be July 14.
Blair pleads not guilty to felony assault
POLSON — A Columbia Falls man is accused of pistol-whipping another man in Ferndale. Brian Eugene Blair, 48, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on June 30 to felony assault with a weapon. Brian Blair According to charging documents, on June 2 Lake County Sheriff ’s deputies responded to a report of an assault. The alleged victim, identified as John
Doe, told the deputies that Blair struck him in the head with a pistol and aimed it at him after the two could not agree on the rules of a dice game the men were playing. John Doe went on to state that Blair had him on the ground and would kick him while pointing the gun at him. Doe explained that Blair would ask Doe questions and if Blair didn’t like how he answered the question he would kick him again. John Doe also told the deputies that Blair seemed paranoid about surveillance cameras in the area. Blair wanted
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