By Alan Sorensen
Several people have appeared in 12th Judicial District Court on criminal charges in the past few of months. A few of those who pleaded guilty or were sentenced for their crimes are included below.
Shea Cole Pomeroy, 25, Havre, was sentenced March 23 for a drug offense he committed at a Havre motel in August 1999. Pomeroy was given a 2-year deferred imposition of sentence and fined $500. He was ordered to pay the fine to the Tri-Agency Drug Task Force and to pay prosecution fees and surcharges to the clerk of court.
Lawrence LaVerne Sasaki, 19, Havre, pleaded guilty in March to having sexual intercourse without consent and theft. Sasaki admittedly had sex with a 14-year-old girl in February 1999 when he was 17. The judge ordered a presentencing investigation and psychosexual evaluation of Sasaki. Sentencing is scheduled for 2 p.m. July 6.
The maximum penalty on the sex charge is either two to 100 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. Theft carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $50,000 fine.
James Anthony Lawrence, 36, Box Elder, pleaded guilty March 23 to third offense partner or family member assault. Lawrence was sentenced to five years in Montana State Prison with credit for 98 days served. Judge John Warner suspended the remainder of the sentence on condition that Lawrence pay $120 in annual supervisory fees and all prosecution fees and surcharges. Lawrence also must refrain from alcohol and drug use, possess no weapons and remain under the supervision of the Department of Corrections.
Joseph A. Bernard, 18, Rocky Boy, pleaded guilty April 3 to burglary. Bernard was sentenced in early May to a 3-year deferred imposition of sentence and given credit for six days already served. Among his conditions of release were an order to pay $209 restitution and the prosecution fees and surcharges.
Robert Big Bow, 24, Box Elder, pleaded guilty April 3 to felony partner or family member assault as the result of an incident in February 2000. Big Bow was sentenced to five years with the Department of Corrections with credit for 34 days served. The judge recommended that he be enrolled in the Boot Camp program.
Darrin R. Nelson, aka Darrin R. Kurns, 23, Chinook, had his deferred imposition of sentence for issuing bad checks revoked in early April for a probation violation. The bad checks totaling nearly $5,500 were written between October 1996 and December 1997. He was sentenced to four years with Department of Corrections with recommendation to Boot Camp.
Lisa Marie DuBois, 30, Havre, pleaded guilty April 5 to three counts of criminal sale of dangerous drugs. The offenses occurred in October and November 1999. Sentencing set for 9 a.m. July 17.
Ronald William Britt, 23, Havre, entered a change of plea on May 26 to partner or family member assault. Britt pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and given a 1-year deferred imposition of sentence with conditions.
Paul Dean Johnson, 21, Havre, was sentenced May 25 to four years with the Department of Corrections after admitting that he violated conditions of his release on a sexual assault charge. Johnson had pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 1998 to having sex with a 14-year-old girl from Sept. 1, 1997 through May 15, 1998. He was 18 at the time. In February 1999, Johnson was given a 3-year deferred imposition of sentence on several conditions and placed under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Johnson was given credit for jail time he already served and a recommendation for Boot Camp. Two years of the 4-year sentence were suspended and the judge gave Johnson permission to reapply for Boot Camp.
Rick Valdez, 23, Havre, admitted violating conditions of his release by getting drunk. He had been given a suspended sentence on a felony family member assault charge. That sentence was revoked and Valdez was ordered to serve the remainder of his two-year sentence at Montana State Prison or similar facility. He was given credit for 233 days already served.
Laurence Joe Bauer, Jr., 21, Havre, pleaded guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs at a change of plea hearing in late May. Bauer was given an 18-month deferred imposition of sentence on condition that he remain under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, pay the prosecution fee and surcharges and pay $10 to the victims' fund.
