Courts

Seniors

Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

Wilson sentenced to time suspended

POLSON — A Polson man who was accused of assaulting a partner or family member will avoid any more jail time if he can stay out of trouble for the next five years.

Christian Lee Wilson, 24, entered a plea of guilty at District Court in Polson on Jan. 26 to the amended charge of felony criminal endangerment. He was initially charged with felony strangulation of a partner or family member, and violation of a no contact order. Judge James Manley committed Wilson to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years with all that time suspended. The charge of violation of a no contact order was dismissed during the March 23 sentencing hearing.

According to court records, on Nov. 14, Polson police responded to a 911 call regarding a woman seen crying and saying she couldn’t breathe. The person calling also reported that they had witnessed a man come out and slap the crying woman before taking her back inside. Upon arrival, officers could hear arguing from the suspected apartment. They then encountered the alleged victim, “Jane Doe,” who was crying. Upon entering the apartment, the officers found Wilson attempting to hide under a bed. Both officers were aware of a no contact order prohibiting Wilson from seeing “Jane Doe.”

The alleged victim went on to state that she had wanted to attend her sister’s birthday party, but Wilson refused to let her leave. She said he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her onto a table. Wilson is also accused of putting his hand over her nose and mouth, preventing her from breathing for a couple seconds. The alleged victim said she scratched Wilson to get him to stop. She said she was aware of the no contact order, but they loved each other. Both stated they wanted to marry and have children, according to the charging document.

Judge Manley gave Wilson credit for having already served 73 days in jail. Wilson was also ordered to attend up to 40 hours of counseling.

Charlo pleads not guilty to possession

POLSON — A Polson woman is accused of dealing multiple drugs in Lake County. Rayona Marie Charlo, 18, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on March 23 to three counts of criminal possession with intent to distribute.

According to court records, on Feb. 21, a law enforcement officer who specializes in combating the local drug trade observed a man and woman walking along a road. The man was known by the officer to be wanted on an outstanding warrant and he

was arrested. When the officer questioned the woman, later identified as Charlo, she admitted to possessing a “loc,” which the officer knew was street slang for a pipe. After handing over the pipe and being read her rights, Charlo admitted to possessing a gun in a backpack. She said she also was in possession of “some dark, some dope, and some blues.” The officer searched the backpack and located a 9mm glock handgun, 11 piecRayona Charlo es of tinfoil containing heroin, two baggies of meth, seven and a half blue counterfeit fentanyl pills with the M-30 stamp, a digital scale, and $846 in cash. Judge James Manley set a trial date of Aug. 1.

Whitworth sentenced for vehicular homicide

POLSON — A Polson woman was sentenced at District Court in Polson on March 24 to the Montana State Women’s Prison for 30 years with 20 years suspended for running over and killing another woman on Halloween. Sharon Lynn Whitworth, 56, pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence on Feb. 3. Prosecutor James Lapotka was asking for 20 years prison with 10 years suspended, while the defense was seeking 15 years with 10 years suspended.

According to court records, on Oct. 31, 2021, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Atkins responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian on Huckleberry Lane southeast of Polson. Upon arriving, Deputy Atkins discovered a silver Cadillac with a deceased person underneath it next to a driveway, and a man bleeding from his face. The bleeding man told Atkins that he had just finished dinner when he heard dogs begin to bark and noticed a car driving through a field across the street from his house. He said his mother, Tonya Charles, 63, went outside and called law enforcement to report a possible drunk driver. The suspected drunk driver was acting impaired and yelling inside her Cadillac. Charles attempted to take a picture of the suspected drunk driver, and the driver accelerated over a gate and ran over Charles. The car kept going and dragged the victim across the driveway and pinned her under

Sharon the Cadillac. Tonya’s son Whitworth attempted to reach into the window of the Cadillac to remove the keys from the ignition and the driver, later identified as Whitworth, punched him, causing him to bleed from his face. The son ran to his garage and retrieved a car jack in an attempt to lift the Cadillac off his mother, but Tonya Charles died of her injuries. A neighbor also witnessed the incident and corroborated the son’s version of events. Whitworth refused to participate in field sobriety tests. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant to obtain a blood draw. When interviewed by law enforcement, Whitworth allegedly admitted to drinking a lot that day. When asked by Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Devon McCrea “on a scale of one to ten with ten being the highest, how intoxicated were

see page 9

from page 8

you?” Whitworth allegedly replied “10.”

An investigation showed that prior to striking and killing Charles, Whitworth allegedly had struck another vehicle, hit several trees, and ran over and killed the neighbor’s dog.

Leroy Charles, Tonya’s son, was merely feet away from his mother when she was killed and took the witness stand on behalf of the Charles family. He asked Judge Robert Whelan, who appeared remotely from Butte, for the maximum sentence of 30 years with no chance of parole, saying his mother was the backbone of the family. Barry Charles, Tonya’s husband of 45 years also took the stand and requested the maximum as he tried to hold back his anger. Dora Charles-Corenlius, Tonya’s daughter, testified that she now has no one to turn to during difficult times, and that she has had to assume the role of family matriarch.

Whitworth’s attorney, Elizabeth Ehret, told the court that her client suffered a number of mitigating circumstances, such as being abused by a stepfather and then kicked out of the house at a young age for disclosing the abuse to her mother. She also stated that her client has no memory of the incident.

Sharon Whitworth read a statement in court accepting full responsibility and apologizing to the Charles family.

Whitworth will have to complete the state’s alcohol treatment program. Judge Whelan said Whitworth will be 86 before she is no longer under the supervision of the state. Whitworth was given credit for the 144 days she has served since she was arrested on Halloween night 2021.

News from the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance

HELENA — Commissioner Troy Downing is seeking to identify Montanans who invested in precious metals and coins purchased from Lear Capital, Inc. The Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) recently contacted 165 known investors in the state, encouraging them to provide information to help CSI better understand Lear Capital’s conduct while dealing with Montana investors.

“Our agency is looking closely into Lear Capital’s business practices to determine if state laws were violated. By contacting investors, our team can better assess Lear Capital’s sales tactics.” Commissioner Downing said, “If you invested with Lear Capital, contact our agency to discuss your investment with our team.”

Earlier this month, Lear Capital filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has been the subject of regulatory actions in New York and California for allegedly failing to disclose millions of dollars in high fees and commissions.

Commissioner Downing strongly suggests investors file a claim in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court case upon receiving information and instructions from the court. CSI is sending questionnaires to known investors regarding their interactions with Lear Capital. Investors who did not receive a questionnaire from CSI can contact the CSI Securities Division at 406-444-2040, or by going online to CSIMT.gov.