Mills trial on rape charge continues

During the second day of testimony, defense attorney Jeremy Yellin continued to try poking holes in the allegations made by a woman who said then-probation officer Steve Mills raped her.

Mills is on trial for sexual intercourse without consent and attempted sexual intercourse without consent. He allegedly raped the woman in the early morning of Jan. 12, 2014.

Mills was the probation officer for the woman's son. The defense contends that the woman concocted the story because she was upset Mills wanted the son placed in a group home for troubled children.

The case may go to the jury today.

Yellin pointed out that the woman's story about the raped changed as time went on, getting more graphic each time.

Havre Police Officer Kevin Corner talked to the women twice on the night of the incident, first in the patrol car as she was taken to Northern Montana Hospital and later in a room at the hospital.

Corner said the victim appeared very upset and was shaking. She was sobbing, but he saw no tears in her eyes. He said he didn't know what to make of that.

Under cross examination, he said he could see no hair missing on her head.

The woman testified during the first day of the trail that Mills had grabbed her by her hair during the alleged rape.

Later, Noelle Brekke, a registered nurse at Northern Montana Hospital's emergency room, testified she didn't think it was unusual that no hair was missing.

Brekke said she was working with doctors after the incident helping doctors examined who the woman and administered a rape kit examination to secure evidence.

Brekke said the woman appeared very nervous, red-eyed and disheveled. She gave him an injection of medication to calm her down.

Yellin asked if the woman asked for the medication. She said yes.

Under re-direct examination from Assistant Montana Attorney General Joel Thompson, Brekke said she never would have given her the injection unless she thought it was necessary.

During the exam, the woman complained of vaginal and anal pain, she said, but there were no mark on her body in those regions.

Brekke said she did see a mark on the woman's neck, but she couldn't determine if that mark was fresh.

Havre Police Detective Sgt. Jason Barkus testified about an interview he had with the woman three days after the incident.

He showed a video of the interview, which lasted about 15 minutes, to the jury, She described in detail the events surrounding the incident, She was shaky and spoke softly during the interview.

At the conclusion of the interview, she asked Barkus if Mills would continue to be her son's probation officer given the allegations she made. Barkus said he was sure other arrangements would be made.

Yellin then called a number of character witnesses to the stand.

Pat Floyd of Havre said she had known Mills from church, where she is very active, and from Eagles Club, where she said she and her husband went for dinner on Thursday nights.

She is a volunteer with CASA - Court-Appointed Special Advocates, a group of people who work with troubled youth in the court system. She said she know Mills in that capacity.

Yellin asked her if she thought Mills would be violent.

"He's one of the least violent people I know," she said.

Asked about Mills truthfulness, she said he was always very truthful.

Under cross examination, Thompson asked if she would be surprised if Floyd had lied to police.

She said she would be.

Brian Carpenter of Havre testified that Mills had sponsored him for Elks Club membership and the two had become friends.

Carpenter vouched for his honesty and nonviolence.

Yellin then asked if he knew the alleged victim.

Thompson objected.

Judge Kathleen Bidegaray then summoned the lawyers into her chambers.

When they returned, Carpenter was dismissed from the stand, and court was adjourned for the day.