By Alan Sorensen
Nearly 20 people pleaded guilty to crimes or were sentenced for their offenses in 12th Judicial District Court in recent weeks.
James Allen Evans, 47, Glendive, pleaded guilty Aug. 25 to exploiting an older person. Evans was charged with charging an elderly area resident $670, $1,100 and $300 Feb. 28 through March 12 for yard work he never performed. Evans sentencing was scheduled for 11 a.m. on Oct. 4. He faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine not to exceed $50,000 plus a $20 prosecution fee and $5 surcharge.
Myron L. Brown, 31, Havre, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol fourth offense. He was arrested and charged with the DUI offense in the 1000 block of First Street on April 7, 1997. Brown is scheduled to be sentenced for the felony offense at 11 a.m. on Oct. 4.
Levi T. Olson Jr., aka Levi T. Olson, 22, Poplar, pleaded guilty Aug. 26 to the charge of issuing bad checks by common scheme. The checks totaling $2,217.73 on a closed account were passed in Havre between Feb. 4 1994 and March 31, 1994. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 4. The offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 plus a $20 prosecution fee and $5 surcharge.
Thomasine S. Anderson, 24, Rocky Boy, pleaded guilty to a bad check charge for seven checks totaling $940.26 she cashed in Havre on March 25 and 26, 1996. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was set for 9 a.m. Oct. 4. The offense carries a sentence of not more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $10,000 plus fees.
Sandra Lee Norquay, 43, Havre, was sentenced on Aug. 25 to five years custody with the Department of Corrections. She was given credit for 65 days already served in jail. Norquay pleaded guilty Feb. 12, 1999 to forging checks belonging to someone else.
Ricky Eugene Robison, 20, Box Elder, was given a 3-year deferred imposition of sentence on a burglary charge that he pleaded guilty to on July 19. The incident involved a break-in at a Havre pawn shop in late April 1997.
Ryan Reinmuth, 19, Havre, pleaded guilty Aug. 27 to burglarizing a Havre west Havre distributorship on June 25. Taken in the incident were alcohol, cameras and alcohol paraphernalia. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was scheduled for 3 p.m. Oct. 4. Reinmuth faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 plus fees and surcharges.
Robert J. Vukasin II, 34, Havre, was given a 3-year deferred imposition of sentence on condition that he pay $4,318 restitution for burglaries. Vukasin was ordered to abide by a curfew from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and was banned from both Beaver Creek Park and Fresno Reservoir. Vukasin pleaded guilty in July to two counts of burglary involving six cabins at Beaver Creek Park and 10 cabins at Fresno Reservoir on April 7 and 8.
Damon Nelson Heck, 21, Havre, pleaded guilty Aug. 27 to criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs and was given a 1-year deferred imposition of sentence. The charge involved the growing of marijuana on April 29 at a home in the 900 block of Montana Avenue. He was fined $300 plus a $25 surcharge and released on normal conditions.
Stephen Merle Hobbs, 29, Box Elder, admitted to violating four conditions of his release: moving without permission, leaving a job without permission, missing appointments with his probation officer, and using methamphetamines. The judge revoked his 2-year suspended sentence for criminal endangerment of two law enforcement officers stemming from an incident southwest of Havre on Sept. 6, 1996 in which Hobbs tried to drive over the officers. Warner ordered Hobbs into custody of the Department of Corrections with a recommendation for placement in an appropriate facility with credit for time served.
Arturo Maurice Manriquez, 22, Harlem, was given a 2-year deferred imposition of sentence on Aug. 31 on condition that he abide by conditions as set down in his presentence investigation. Manriquez also must acquire a GED by July 1, 2000 and get permission before changing jobs. Manriquez pleaded guilty June 19 to robbing two men at knife point at Kmart on April 9.
William Sandy Nace, aka William Alan Nace, 35, Havre, admitted violating conditions of his release earlier on theft charges. Nace was sentenced to six months in Hill County Jail with all but 30 days suspended on condition that he be placed under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Nace was ordered to pay all fines and surcharges, remain law-abiding, stay away from alcohol and businesses where alcohol is the primary source of income, remain subject to breath and blood testing, maintain employment, pay his supervisory fees and surcharges, pay restitution and $250 attorney fees, and complete in-patient chemical dependency treatment. Nace was given a second identical sentence to run concurrent with the first and with all the same conditions attached.
Elwood Cyril Brittingham, 52, Havre, was found to be mentally deficient at the time of his crime, partner assault third offense on Jan. 1, 1999 in Havre. Brittingham was given a 4-year suspended sentence with credit for two days already served with conditions.
Aaron M. Johnson, 19, Havre, was sentenced Sept. 1 to the Department of Corrections for three years on two counts of burglary he pleaded guilty to on July 19. He was given credit for 42 days already served. Johnsons sentence recommended that he be placed in an appropriate facility and that he be given mental and psychological evaluations. Johnson was ordered to abide upon his release by the conditions set down in his presentence investigation.
Buddy Selby, 36, Havre, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief Sept. 2 and was given a 6-month suspended jail sentence. Selby was ordered to pay his fine, fees and surcharges by Oct. 1 and restitution of $1,510.30 plus 10 percent by Jan. 1, 2000. He must abide by the conditions set down in his plea agreement. The charge stemmed from an incident June 4 when he rammed another persons vehicle with his vehicle.
John William Haley Jr., 19, Havre, admitted that he failed to complete his prerelease and treatment programs. His deferred sentences on five burglaries and one criminal mischief charge were revoked. Haley was given four 10-year sentences on the burglary charges and a 5-year sentence on the criminal mischief charge. The sentences were to run concurrently. The sentences were then suspended on several conditions, including Haleys supervision by the Department of Corrections and that he pay $1,800 restitution and remain law-abiding.
Randy Lee Cloninger, 22, Kremlin, was given two 4-year deferred impositions of sentence on conditions that he abide by a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, get his GED, and commit no felonies. The sentences stemmed from two burglaries he pleaded guilty to on July 12. He was given credit for 39 days already served and ordered to pay $2,080 restitution plus 10 percent.
