courts Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal
Hardy sentenced for felony assault with a weapon POLSON — A Polson man was sentenced at District Court in Polson Dec. 9 to the Montana State Prison for a period 20 years with 10 years suspended on one count of felony assault with a weapon. The charge stems from an armed stand-off with Polson Police last July. Edward Dale Hardy, 63, entered into a plea agreement Sept. 30, that
dismisses felony charges of kidnapping and criminal endangerment. According to court reEdward cords, on Hardy Jul. 8, Polson Police responded to the Bellevue Trailer Court along U. S.
Highway 93 in Polson after a woman called 911 to report her boyfriend had fired his weapon inside the residence and was refusing to let her leave. Other residents of the trailer court also reported hearing shots fired. A responding Polson Police officer approached the trailer where the disturbance was reported and noticed two bullet holes. The officer retreated to
his patrol unit. About that same time the woman who first reported the shooting was back on the phone with 911 dispatchers. She indicated that her boyfriend, later identified as Hardy, was barricading himself inside the trailer home. She also said Hardy told her to say he had explosives inside the home. Area residents were forced to evacuate their
homes as a precaution. Police were eventually able to negotiate the woman’s release as multiple other law enforcement agencies responded to assist. Hardy was able to escape his house through a window. A Polson Police officer subdued Hardy as he was attempting to enter his vehicle. Police would later find what was described in court as a pipe bomb
Corcoran sentenced to 30 years in prison, 20 suspended POLSON — A Charlo man was sentenced at District Court in Polson on Dec. 9, to a total of 30 years in the Montana State Prison with 20 years suspended for threatening the mother of his child and her fiancé with a gun and fighting with responding law enforcement. Stoney Randal Corcoran, 51, pled Stoney Corcoran guilty in District Court at Polson Sept. 30 to felony charges of criminal endangerment, assault on a peace or judicial officer and intimidation. According to court records, on Mar. 23, Lake County Sheriff ’s deputies responded to an unspecified gas station in Ronan on a report that Corcoran had chased a woman down, threatened her with a gun and was blocking her in with his Ford Bronco. The woman was identified only by her initials, J. M. 8 - December 15, 2021
At the scene, the first responding deputy ordered Corcoran to the ground out of fear he had a gun. Corcoran allegedly refused and fought with the deputy, punching him in the left cheek. A second deputy was able to take Corcoran into custody. A relative of the alleged victim told deputies that Corcoran had come to her house to pick up the daughter that he shares with J. M. but was unable to take her. He left but soon after spotted J. M. driving along U. S. Highway 93. He allegedly began to follow her while forcing other motorists to take evasive action to avoid colliding and seemed to be attempting to run her off the road while brandishing a gun. J. M. stated the Corcoran texted her that if she gets a restraining order “see how good it does her” and that she would never see her fiancé again. J. M. also stated that Corcoran had come to her place of work and let himself into her house. At the house Corcoran is alleged to have held the
fiancé at gun point until the fiancé was able to deescalate the situation. On another occasion, Corcoran allegedly pointed a gun at J. M. and her fiancé as they were driving around in the Charlo area. Records show Corcoran was sentenced to the Montana State Prison in July 1989 for ten years with seven suspended for aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon. He has since been sent back to prison on numerous occasions for both violating terms of his probation and committing more crimes in at least three other counties in Western Montana and the state of Washington. The crimes mentioned in his report of violations include domestic violence, drug possession and failing to register as a violent offender in Lake County in 1991. As part of the plea agreement, two counts of felony assault with a weapon were dismissed. Judge Robert J. Whelan of Butte presided over the case via the zoom platform. He gave Corcoran credit for 262 days jail time already served.
Valley Journal
inside Hardy’s home. Judge John W. Larson of Missoula presided over the case via the zoom platform. He gave Hardy credit for 155 days jail time already served. He also advised Hardy that if he successfully completes all the recommended state programs and treatment provided in prison, he could be out in about nine months.
Neadeau pleads no contest to criminal endangerment POLSON – A St. Ignatius man had the imposition of sentencing deferred for a period of six years during a sentencing hearing at District Court in Polson on Dec. 9 after entering a no contest plea to criminal endangerment. Donald Adam Neadeau, 19, was initially charged with sexual intercourse without consent, but the charge was amended to criminal endangerment as part of a plea agreement that took into account a lack of physical evidence. According to court reDonald cords, on Dec. 14, 2020, a Neadeau “Jane Doe” reported that a co-worker had sexually assaulted her in the restroom at their place of work while brandishing a kitchen knife. Judge John W. Larson of Missoula presided over the case. He gave Neadeau credit for having served 242 days in the Lake County jail and ordered him to pay restitution totaling $5,016. see more courts on page 9
