Suspect denies sexual abuse charges

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Defendant Edward Ghostbear, left, and attorney Phillip DeFelice listen to District Judge Dan Boucher read Ghostbear's charge — a felony count of sexual intercourse without consent — during Ghostbear's arraignment Friday morning at the Hill County Courthouse.

Edward Ghostbear is getting a first-hand view of swift justice.

The Havre man was arrested last week on charges of felony sexual intercourse without consent. By the end of the week, on Friday morning, Ghostbear's arraignment was held.

Ghostbear pleaded not guilty to the charges, and an omnibus hearing was set for Monday, Feb. 27, at 3:30 p. m.

The charges first started during a fight reported outside of the Branded by Fire Ministries building on 2nd Avenue.

A woman was hitting Ghostbear, as police discovered, because she had heard from her daughter that Ghostbear had molested her.

The report stated that such incidents had occurred from Dec. 15 through Jan. 8.

Officials at Branded by Fire denied the claims last week.

"We're trying to help Havre, and this is so bogus …, " Mike Neubauer, founder of the center, said, "If anyone had heard about someone being molested, we would have heard about it. "

Myron David, who first called the police about the fight, said he and his family had been around Ghostbear and the girl on one of the dates in question and saw nothing suspicious.

Ghostbear and his attorney, along with the prosecution, have until Feb. 27 to get motions filed before a trial date is set or a plea agreement made.

Ghostbear remained in the Hill County Detention Center this morning.