By Alan Sorensen
by Alan
Sorensen
The Havre Daily News
Monday, May 17
Four men pleaded guilty to felony charges in 12th Judicial District Court recently and two others were sentenced.
Elwood Cyril Brittingham, 52, Havre, pleaded guilty May 3 in Liberty County to third offense partner assault. Brittinghams girlfriend entered the Havre Police Department shortly after 1 a.m. Jan. 3, 1999, to complain that he beat her while she was sleeping. In exchange for the guilty plea, a second charge of partner assault stemming from a Feb. 20 incident was dismissed. District Court Judge John Warner ordered a presentence hearing and set sentencing for 10:30 a.m. June 14, 1999.
The maximum penalty for the offense is not less than 30 days or more than five years in prison and a fine of between $500 and $50,000 plus a $20 prosecution fee and $5 surcharge.
Marlin Jacob Lightfoot, 22, Havre, pleaded guilty May 3 to fourth offense driving under the influence of alcohol. Lightfoot was caught in control of a vehicle in a Havre motel parking lot while drunk on March 28, 1999. A presentence investigation was ordered and his sentencing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 8. He was released on his own recognizance pending sentencing.
The maximum penalty for the offense is six to 13 months in prison and a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000 plus a $20 prosecution fee and $5 surcharge.
William Dumas, 28, Taylorsville, Utah, pleaded guilty May 5 to felony issuing a bad check by common scheme for cashing 56 bad checks in Havre between Nov. 3, 1994, and Jan. 21, 1995. Dumas was given a 3-year deferred imposition of sentence with conditions and was ordered to pay $1,761.26 restitution to Hill County and $180 restitution to Cascade County.
Adam M. Allen, 19, Boulder, pleaded guilty May 6 to felony burglary of Beaver Creek Park cabin on April 7 and misdemeanor theft for taking control of stolen items on April 10.
Shortly before 8 p.m. May 12, Judge Warner deferred Allens imposition of sentence until Dec. 31, 1999, on condition that he pay $45 surcharges and $50 restitution soon and pay a $300 fine over time.
Douglas Dale Winchell, 27, Havre, was given a 2-year deferred imposition of sentence and ordered to pay $75 child support each month during the sentencing period. Winchell pleaded guilty April 9 to felony partner assault for inflicting an injury on his ex-wife at a grocery store while confronting her about continuing to use his last name despite their divorce. The incident occurred on Feb. 18, 1999.
Ruben Braseno Mondragon, 55, Box Elder, was sentenced May 11 to five years in Montana State Prison with all but 260 days suspended.
Mondragon pleaded guilty March 24 to criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The charge stemmed from an incident in Havre on Oct. 12, 1998, in Havre, according to court records.
He was ordered to serve the sentence in Hill County Jail from Oct. 12, 1998, to May 28, 1999. Mondragon also was ordered to answer warrants in the state of Washington and abide by conditions of his presentence investigation. He also must abide by all city, county, state and tribal laws and be subject to random searches of his home, vehicle and person without warrant.
