Courts

Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

Hawkins sentenced to four years

POLSON — A Pablo man was sentenced at District Court in Polson Jan. 13 to four years with the Montana Department of Corrections with all that time suspended on a felony partner or family member conviction. Cory William Hawkins, 45, has two prior misdemeanor convictions, one involving the same victim.

According to court records, on Aug. 24 the Lake County dispatch center received two 911 calls regarding an alleged assault in Pablo. One of the reporting parties indicated that the victim of the assault came to their residence and said she had been choked. When law enforcement arrived they observed what they described as a distraught victim. She had red marks on her neck, had a raspy voice and her daughter was trying to comfort her. She told investigators that she and Hawkins were in an argument that turned physical. Records show Hawkins has two prior convictions for misde-

Cory meanor PFMA. A third PFMA Hawkins conviction rises to the felony level under Montana Code Annotated. Prosecutor Molly Owen with the Lake County Attorney’s office told presiding Judge Robert G. Olson that the victim’s father was wanting a harsher punishment but the victim “stymied prosecution efforts.” Judge Olson appeared remotely from the 9th Judicial District.

Couture pleads not guilty to possession

POLSON — A Ronan man with a history of criminal activity in Lake County is accused of dealing drugs. Joseph Louis Couture, 30, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson Jan. 6 to criminal possession with Joseph intent to distrib- Couture ute.

According to court records, on Aug. 8, 2021, Couture was driving a vehicle that was the subject of a traffic stop by a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy. Couture was wanted on an outstanding warrant and was arrested. He was also on probation. His Probation officer requested the vehicle Couture was driving be searched. The search allegedly turned up a bag of methamphetamine weighing 28 grams, a smaller bag containing two grams of meth and an item of drug paraphernalia.

A Request for a bond reduction was denied by Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher. A trial date has not yet been set. Couture remains in the Lake County jail with bail totaling $100,000.

Eystad convicted of eighth DUI

POLSON — A Flathead Valley man was committed at District Court in Polson Jan. 6 to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years after being convicted of what records show is his eighth DUI conviction.

Earl Dean Eystad, 55, was fined $5,000 and given credit for having already served 223 days in jail.

According to court records, on May 16, Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Fernando Venegas took a report of a possible drunk driver in the

Early Eystad

Woods Bay area. Lt. Venegas observed the suspect vehicle weaving all over the road and driving 15 miles per hour below the posted speed limit before conducting a traffic stop on it. The driver was identified as Eystad. He appeared to be intoxicated and smelled of alcohol. He had to hold onto his vehicle to maintain his balance and was either unable or unwilling to participate in field sobriety tests or provide a breath test. Lt. Venegas also noted a glass pipe and empty containers of alcohol on the floorboard of the vehicle.

A check of Eystad’s records shows seven prior convictions for DUI.

Locke sentenced for burglary

POLSON — A Bismark North Dakota man was committed at District Court in Polson on Jan. 13 to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years with all that time suspended on a burglary conviction.

Justin Scott Locke, 30, was already convicted of burglary and theft charges in neighboring counties. He received a five year DOC commitment in both of those cases. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher made her five years consecutive to those terms. She also ordered restitution of $200 and gave Locke credit for 129 days in jail already served.

According to court records, on April 13, 2020, the manager of the Blue Bay Campground called law enforcement to report a break-in at the campground’s entry kiosk. Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Yonkin observed hinges

on the kiosk’s door were pried apart and a safe inside the kiosk had been broken into. A blood sample taken from the scene was analyzed at the state crime lab and tested positive for Locke. Video surveillance at the kiosk showed a man with a tattoo looking into the kiosk. Locke has a matching tattoo. Locke took responsibility for his actions calling them Justin Locke “stupid.” He said he was trying to make his way back to North Dakota and needed money.

Gardipe pleads guilty to theft, burglary

POLSON — An Elmo man was sentenced at District Court in Polson Jan. 12 to a total of six years in the Montana State Prison on theft and burglary charges. Trevor Daniel Gardipe, 25, pleaded guilty to the charges on Sept, 8. He did so without the benefit of a plea agreement, subjecting him to the maximum on each charge, 20 years for burglary and five years for theft.

Judge James Manley cited Gardipe’s “ex-

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Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

Gardipe

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tensive criminal history” in sentencing Gardipe to three years in prison on each charge. The sentences are to run consecutive to each other with no time suspended.

Gardipe admitted to his involvement in breaking into the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Forestry building in Trevor Ronan on Nov. 29, Gardipe 2019 and stealing two chainsaws and a tool kit.

In handing down the sentence Judge Manley made reference to Gardipe’s behavior while incarcerated and his attitude while appearing in court. Gardipe was given credit for having already served 64 days in the Lake County jail. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,150.

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Erickson pleads not guilty to criminal mischief

POLSON — A Polson man is accused of having an outburst during a court proceeding and damaging communications equipment.

Tyler Erickson, 22, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson Jan. 6. to felony criminal mischief.

According to court records, on Dec. 1 Erickson was appearing before Judge James Manley when during the proceeding Erickson became upset and allegedly thew a table on it’s side damaging a speaker. He also allegedly elbowed the screen of a flat screen television, breaking it. Erickson was escorted from the courtroom to a holding cell in the Lake County jail. While there, Erickson allegedly escaped a belly chain and used it to break two cameras in the cell. The damages caused by Erickson were in excess of $1,500.

Judge Manley set a trial date of May 9.

MVCA Community Center phase 1 progresses

News from the Mission Valley Christian Academy

POLSON — Mission Valley Christian Academy just opened a new pre-school and is now starting “Phase 1” of building the community center thanks to a recent donation from Greg and Susan Gianforte and support from numerous individual donors in the Polson community.

MVCA has been working toward expanding both campus size and capacity to provide greater availability for school choice and Christian education in the greater Polson community. The community center will expand both the MVCA high school and provide a facility for large gatherings in the Polson community.

“These generous donations are an incredible blessing allowing MVCA to serve the entire community and expand the option of school choice to many more high school students,” said MVCA Principal Andrew Russell.

The funding will allow for MVCA to begin the community center project this year, with a goal of completing Phase 1 in August. Phase 1 will complete the high school addition which will allow MVCA to facilitate up to 100 high school students on campus. Phase 2, the full community center, will be set to begin soon after.

The mission of MVCA is to provide Christ centered quality education to produce life-long servant leaders. For more information about MVCA and their building and expansion projects, please visit their website.

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