Courts

Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

Martinez sentenced for felony burglary, assault

POLSON — A Polson man was sentenced at District Court in Polson on July 13 to a total of 40 years with the Montana State Prison, with 20 years suspended, on felony charges of aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon.

Chimeco Rivers Martinez, 18, entered open guilty pleas to the charges on April 6. In exchange, the state agreed to dismiss felony charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and kidnapping.

According to court records, at about 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2021, Polson Police responded to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center on a report that staff were treating the victim of a stabbing. The victim had suffered “several serious stab wounds and slashes to his arms.” The officers noted the injuries appeared to be defensive wounds to his arms, elbow, bicep, palms, and wrist. The victim told police that he was at his apartment when a person entered his unit through a window. He said he tried to get the person to leave, but the intruder presented a knife and tried to stab him. The victim told police that he tried to defend himself but was unable to and fell over and was kicked in the face. He also told police that he thought the intruder seemed drunk, high, or on something. The intruder prevented the victim from leaving his apartment, despite the victim’s need for medical attention. At this point the victim had suffered serious slash wounds that would later require stitches. The victim went on to state that the intruder took his vehicle keys, wallet, two iPads and an extension cord. When the intruder figured out which car at the apartment’s parking lot went to the victim’s keys, he forced the victim to get in the back seat. The victim said his captor “drove like a maniac” but eventually dropped him off at the hospital.

Officers took their investigation to the victim’s apartment and observed a footprint on a windowsill with a broken screen and window confirming point of entry. The apartment was in disarray, there was blood gathered where the victim appeared to have treated his wounds. The officers also observed coins scattered about and located the victim’s wallet. Drops of blood and more coins lead from the apartment to where the victim’s car was parked. About two hours later police located the victim’s car parked at a parking lot in the 700 block of Polson’s Main Street with Martinez allegedly slumped over the steering wheel. Upon his arrest, Martinez was alleged to have been in possession of a folding pocketknife, methamphetamine, extension cord, two iPads, and a bag of coins. Officers also observed blood in the back seat of the car and along the window buttons.

Martinez was 17 when the incident occurred, but due to the seriousness of the crimes his case stayed in adult court.

District Judge Molly Owen, who presided over the case, also ordered restitution in the amount of $5,526.

Chimeco Martinez

Brockman pleads not guilty to possession

POLSON — A Kalispell man is accused of dealing the deadly drug fentanyl in Lake County. Quinn Michael Brockman, 33, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on July 14 to criminal possession of dangerous drugs and possession with intent to distribute.

According to court records, on May 31, law enforcement officers were paged out to a possible burglary in the Charlo area. Near the scene of the alleged burglary, law enforcement of-

ficers spotted a man getting up from the front end of a vehicle which appeared to be disabled. The man, later identified as Brockman, allegedly had tools with him which could be used to remove catalytic converters from automobiles. He was wearing a purple shirt and black hat that matched the description of the burglary suspect. While being placed in custody officers located 80 suspected fentanyl or blue Quinn Brockman pills with the m-30 stamp in his front right pocket. Officers also located a baggie with a half a gram of suspected methamphetamine. Judge Karen Townsend set a trial date of Dec. 12. Brockman remains at liberty on his own recognizance.

$11M secured for Missoula Airport through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Funding will come from the FY22 Airport Terminal Program

News from the office of Senator Tester

BIG SANDY – U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced on July 7 that he secured more than $11 million for the construction of a new terminal at Missoula Montana Airport. This funding will come from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and will finance phase two of the terminal replacement. The new terminal will be larger, more energy-efficient, and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“With more and more people flying in and out of Missoula every day, this new terminal will have a big impact on both the travel experience and our local economy, said Tester. “Projects like this state-of-the-art upgrade for Missoula’s airport are at the heart of our bipartisan infrastructure law—making targeted investments that create local jobs and grow our economy well into the future.”

Tester secured approximately $144 million for 69 Montana airports through his bipartisan infrastructure law, which will be awarded over five years through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Grants, which can be used to construct or repair runways and taxiways as well as make terminal and gate improvements.

‘Celebrate Ronan’ event brings community together

News from Tribal Waves

RONAN — Tribal Waves held an event last week called ‘Celebrate Ronan,’ and it was a major success. Everything at the event was free from the bouncy houses, dunk tank, snow cones, 1000 hot dogs, to free prize giveaways. We provided the community with all of this to celebrate why Ronan is so great.

Over 100 kids and people showed up to celebrate but we couldn’t have done it without our great sponsors which I really wanted to highlight here:

True Value

WBC

Westland Seed

Valley Bank

Glacier Bank

Walmart

Harvest Food

Napa

Car services

Flathead Boys & Girls Club

Of course we believe in love at first sight. We see it every day.

Experience the joy of giving birth in a private, family-centered and supportive environment before, during and after childbirth. Make your appointment today and find out why our physicians are the leading choice for obstetrics in Lake County.

IN RONAN:

St. Luke Community Hospital 107 6th Ave. SW 406-676-4441

St. Luke Community Clinic – Ronan 126 6th Ave. SW 406-676-3600

IN POLSON:

St. Luke Community Clinic – Ridgewater 107 Ridgewater Drive 406-883-3737

St. Luke Community Clinic – Southshore 104 Rufus Lane 406-883-2555

IN ST. IGNATIUS:

St. Luke Community Clinic – St. Ignatius 330 Six Tracts Way 406-745-2781