By Pete Soyer
A teenager who admitted stabbing a man several times and a man who threatened to shoot people were among more than 20 people whose cases advanced through 12th Judicial District Court in the past few weeks.
Ryan Ray Denny, 17, Havre, pleaded guilty on Aug. 1 to a charge of assault with a weapon. The charge stems from an incident in Havre March 12 when Denny stabbed a man five times in the upper torso near the Oakwood Village Apartments, according to court documents. Denny was sentenced to go to the Department of Corrections for placement in an appropriate facility until he is 25, with a recommendation for boot camp. His case will be opened for review when he is 21.
Christopher Lemonte Cook, 32, Monroe, Wash., was sentenced to six months in Hill County Jail on a charge of criminal trespassing, five years in Montana State Prison on a charge of malicious intimidation, six months in Hill County Jail on a charge of assault, and five years in Montana State Prison on a charge of robbery. Cook's sentences will run concurrently, and he was given credit for 147 days served.
The charges arose from an incident March 3 at a Havre tavern when Cook threatened to shoot people. He later stole a purse from the Vets Club, according to court documents.
Larry Dean Favel, 38, Box Elder, was found innocent of a charge of driving under the influence and two counts of reckless driving in a jury trial June 20.
Jenell Rene Leo, 24, Havre, pleaded guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The charge arose from an incident at the Police Department Sept. 23. She was fined $1,000 with surcharges and fees to be added. She has been placed under the supervision of the Department of Corrections and has to undergo a chemical dependency evaluation.
Robert A. Mooney, 34, Havre, pleaded guilty to third-offense partner assault. The charge arose from an incident at Mooney's home Jan. 7. The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 10 a.m. July 16. Mooney was sentenced to two years in Montana State Prison with all but 34 days suspended and credit for 34 days served. He has to pay $225 in restitution.
Bobbi L. Remus, 23, Havre, was sentenced to a two-year deferred imposition sentence and to pay $1,925 in restitution, plus conditions, fees and surcharges on a charge of felony assault. The charge arose from an incident with a beer bottle at a Havre bar Feb. 4.
Allene M. Erickson, 46, Havre, pleaded guilty on July 2 to charges of forgery and possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. The forgery charge arose from from checks Erickson issued between Jan. 13 and Feb. 12 totaling $3,096.43.
The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 2 p.m. Aug. 13.
Ronald James Fox, 40, Havre, was sentenced to 13 months with the Department of Corrections with all but six months suspended, fined $1,000 plus surcharges and a supervisory fee on a charge of fifth-offense driving under the influence. He was sentenced to one year in jail with all of it suspended and nine days credit for time served on a charge of negligent vehicular assault for rear-ending a Rocky Boy Police Department car. These charges arose from an incident in Box Elder on Nov. 20.
Timothy T. Hall, 32, Havre, was sentenced to 11 years of incarceration with credit for time served on a charge of forgery. The charge arose from four checks Fox wrote totaling more than $2,300 between Aug. 10 and Aug. 16, 2000.
Nathan J. Gopher, 25, Box Elder, pleaded guilty July 9 to a charge of theft. The charge arose from the theft of a Dodge Intrepid from West First Street on April 15.
The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 9:30 a.m. next Monday. The maximum penalty Gopher faces is 10 years in prison and a fine of $50,000.
Ryan Paul Andrews, 18, Havre, pleaded guilty June 9 to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, felony burglary, misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor criminal trespass. The charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs arose from an incident at the Hill County Detention Center on Dec. 30.
The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 9 a.m. Aug. 22.
Ryan Reinmuth, 19, Havre, pleaded guilty July 9 to a charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. The charge arose from an incident at a north Havre bar Oct. 13 involving methamphetamine. The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 10 a.m. next Monday. Reinmuth faces life in prison and a fine of $50,000 and court fees and surcharge.
Angie Faye Swan, 22, Box Elder, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault. The charge arose from an incident in Havre Feb. 17. Swan was fined $200 plus the prosecution's fee, victim's fee and a surcharge of $30.
Vicki Lynn Azure, 41, Havre, pleaded guilty to charges of forgery and issuing a bad check. The charges arose from checks that were forged between Jan. 31 and Feb. 12 in Hill County totaling more than $3,000.
The maximum penalty for forgery is 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The maximum for issuing a bad check is 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 9 a.m. Aug. 22.
William Lynn Newbury, 33, Havre, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. The charge arose from an incident in Havre July 13, 2000, when, according to court documents, Newbury sold $200 worth of cocaine and from an incident in Havre Aug. 29 when, according to court documents, Newbury sold $225 worth of methamphetamine.
The maximum sentence for this charge is life in prison and a fine of $50,000. The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 9 a.m. Thursday.
John W. Lawlor, 62, Havre, was found guilty in a jury trial July 23 of driving under the influence and failure to have proof of insurance. Lawlor pleaded guilty to driving while his license was suspended or revoked. The charges arose from an incident in Havre March 22.
The maximum fine for driving under the influence is 13 months in jail and a fine of $10,000. The maximum penalty for failure to have proof of insurance is 10 days in jail and a fine of $250. The maximum penalty for driving with a suspended or revoked license is six months in jail and a fine of $500. Sentencing was set for 11 a.m. Aug. 22.
Paul R. Christeck, 25, Havre, pleaded guilty to charges of felony theft, four counts of misdemeanor theft and a charge of misdemeanor criminal mischief.
The maximum penalty for the felony theft charge is 10 years in Montana State Prison and a fine of $50,000. The four charges of misdemeanor theft and the charge of misdemeanor criminal mischief carry a maximum penalty of six months in the Hill County Jail and a fine of $1,000. Sentencing was set for 11 a.m. Sept. 5.
John Morris Damson, 28, Havre, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-offense driving under the influence. The charge arose from an incident in Havre April 5. He was sentenced to one year in jail with all but 30 days suspended and fined $500.
William D. Escalante, 37, New York City, pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying dangerous drugs on a train. The charge arose from incident Jan 17, 2000. The judge ordered a presentence investigation and sentencing was set for 9 a.m. Sept. 5.
Escalante faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of incarceration and a $50,000 fine.
Sean Robert Cloninger, 26, Havre, was found guilty in a jury trial of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. The charges arose from incidents May 24 and June 2, 2000, in Havre involving marijuana.
The maximum penalty for the charge is life incarceration and a fine of $50,000. Sentencing was set for 2 p.m. Aug. 30. Additional surcharges and court fees will be added.
Gilbert Pete Russette, 40, Box Elder, was found guilty July 25 of a charge of driving under the influence. The charge arose from an incident with the Montana Highway Patrol Sept. 10. Russette was sentenced to 10 days in the Hill County Jail with all of it suspended if he paid a $320 fine, $15 processing fee, a $10 victim's fee and a $5 surcharge to the clerk of courts office on July 31.
