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 records, on 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 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.

Edward Hardy

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 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.

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 Stoney occasions for both violating terms of Corcoran 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.

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 records, on Dec. 14, 2020, a “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.

Donald Neadeau

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Jury finds Adams not guilty of assault

By Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

POLSON — It took a Lake County Jury about two hours to reach a verdict of not guilty in the case of a Lake Mary Ronan man charged with felony assault with a weapon. The trial began at District Court in Polson Monday Dec. 6 and wrapped up Tuesday afternoon.

Brendan Edward Adams, 58, was charged with assault with a weapon for an incident July 2, 2020.

According to court records, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Geiger Lane near Lake Mary Ronan on a report that a neighbor was “menacing people with a gun.” At the scene a man reported that Adams had pointed a gun at his wife and threatened to shoot her if she touched his fence post again. The man said he retrieved his own gun to protect his wife.

Judge Manley told Adams during a hearing Aug. 18, that although he has never been convicted of a felony before and should be afforded the opportunity of a deferred sentence, this should stay on his record due to a similar incident that was handled in federal court before U. S. District Judge Dana Christensen. In that matter, records show Adams had a civil judgment against him for claims of battery, trespass, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment. In the findings of facts, the jury found that Adams wrongfully imprisoned another person by intentionally and aggressively blocking the person’s ability to cross an easement the person had permission to use. The judgment against Adams, dated May 10, 2021, totaled $850,000.

Judge Manley told Adams he wanted to sentence to him to three years with the Montana Department of Corrections with all but 30 days suspended. Judge Manley told Adams he could serve the 30 days on home arrest. Adams had initially pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon in a plea agreement that called for sentencing being deferred for three years and no jail time. Judge Manley rejected the agreement due to the federal case and allowed Adams to withdraw his guilty plea and take the case to trial.

Lake County Attorney Steve Eschenbacher prosecuted the case. Adams was represented by attorney John E. Smith of Missoula.

In a separate matter, Adams is facing a trial Feb. 14 on two counts of unauthorized work. According to court records, Adams is alleged to have knowingly and without permit, permanently altered the lake shore protection zone by maintaining a 200-foot floating dock and extending his lawn into Lake Mary Ronan by depositing rock fill below the annual mean high-water mark. This was allegedly recorded on video by an area resident.

JEFF SMITH PHOTO Brendan Adams at an earlier court hearing on Aug. 18. December December 24th & 25th 24th & 25th

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