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Man Who Killed Somers Teacher Goes Back to Prison Jason DeShazer convicted of criminal possession of dangerous drugs
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BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
A Kalispell man convicted of killing a Somers Middle School teacher in 2006 is returning to Montana State Prison for 10 years.
On Feb. 4 in Flathead County District Court, Jason DeShazer admitted to vio- lating his parole in 2015, speci cally by using meth, heroin and alcohol on multi- ple occasions.
DeShazer was arrested last September in Lake County and charged with crimi- nal possession of drugs and criminal pos- session of drug paraphernalia. Last month he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of
BRIEFS
Plea Deal Reached in Evergreen Murder Case
The Evergreen man accused of mur- dering his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son last February is expected to enter a plea of Alford this week in Flathead County Dis- trict Court.
Brandon Walter Lee Newberry, 22, is scheduled to enter the plea to an amended charge of mitigated homicide at a hearing on Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. An Alford plea occurs when a defendant doesn’t admit guilt, but acknowledges that the prosecution has enough evidence to nd him guilty in a trial.
A notice of a change of plea hearing was led in court records on Feb. 4 and the plea agreement was led on Feb. 8. According to the agreement, prosecutors will recommend a 40-year sentence to the Montana State Prison with no parole restrictions. The defendant may argue for a lesser sentence. And even if the defense and prosecution agree on a plea deal, the judge is not bound by it and does not have to follow its recommendations.
Newberry initially pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide in February 2015. He was expected to go to trial next month.
According to court documents, New- berry allegedly beat Forrest Groshelle in February 2015. Groshelle later died from a laceration of the small intestine that slowly poisoned the boy, according to his autopsy. During an interview with law enforcement, Newberry admitted to “roughhousing” with the child in the days before he died.
Lincoln County Man Charged with Murder Following Fatal Crash
A Lincoln County man has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder seven months after a fatal accident on the Yaak River Road killed a 67-year-old Libby man.
Johnny Glen Anthony Jr. faces fel- ony charges of vehicular homicide while under the in uence and negligent
dangerous drugs in Lake County District Court and he is expected to receive a ve- year suspended sentence later this month, which will run concurrent to the prison sentence.
On Feb. 4 at a revocation hearing, DeShazer admitted to numerous parole violations, including drug use and failing to check in with his parole o cer. During the hearing, he said he was “embarrassed and ashamed” by what he had done.
In his sentencing recommendation to Judge Heidi Ulbricht, County Attor- ney Ed Corrigan noted that many people had hoped that DeShazer had turned his life around. After being released in 2010,
homicide in the Aug. 8, 2015 death of Jon Douglas Reynolds.
According to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheri ’s O ce, law enforcement received a report of a sin- gle-vehicle crash on the Yaak River Road north of Troy. Emergency responders found a 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck o the road about 17 miles north of town. The driver of the vehicle, Anthony Jr., had his seat belt on and survived the crash. The passenger, Reynolds, did not have a seat belt on and was ejected from the vehicle. Anthony Jr. was allegedly under the in uence at the time of the wreck and apparently drove o the road.
Anthony Jr. was arrested on Feb. 5 and made an initial appearance in Lin- coln County District Court before being released on a $25,000 bond.
Kalispell Man Accused of Using Bear Spray on O cers
A Kalispell man is facing charges of assault on a peace o cer after allegedly attacking two sheri s deputes with bear spray last week.
Devin Andrew Lelm was arrested on Feb. 1 and remains incarcerated at the Flathead County Detention Center.
According to court documents, the Flathead County Sheri ’s O ce received a report of a suspicious man looking into the windows of an Evergreen gas station shortly after 1 a.m. Feb. 1. Two deputies responded to the location a short time later and made contact with Lelm, who allegedly sprayed both o cers in the face with mace meant to stop bears. Despite being temporarily blinded by the bear spray, the deputies were able to subdue Lelm and place him under arrest.
Lelm has been charged with two felony counts of assault on a peace o cer and is expected to appear in court next month.
DeShazer visited local schools to talk about the dangers of drinking and driving. “It goes without saying that we’re all
disappointed in you,” Corrigan said.
On Oct. 26, 2006, DeShazer was drunk behind the wheel of a vehicle when he crossed the centerline on Montana High- way 82 and crashed head on into a vehi- cle driven by Dawn Bowker. Bowker died in the crash. DeShazer pleaded guilty to negligent homicide the following year and was sentenced to 20 years at Montana State Prison with 10 years suspended. DeShazer was released on parole after
three-and-a-half years.
jfranz@ atheadbeacon.com
Flathead Student Who Allegedly Brought Gun to School Faces Five Misdemeanors
The 16-year-old Flathead High School student who allegedly brought a loaded revolver to school last month could face ve misdemeanor charges stemming from the incident.
The male student, whose name has not been released, was incarcerated at the juvenile detention center in Missoula on a $35,000 bond.
A second student, a 14-year-old male, was also arrested for drug possession.
According to Flathead High School Resource O cer Cory Clark, a school employee noticed that the 16-year-old was skipping class and confronted him. During the conversation, the employee noticed the student smelled like alcohol and he was taken to an administrator’s o ce. The student told school o cials that he had been drinking and that there was a bottle of wine in his bag. When o - cials searched the bag, they also found the loaded gun with ve bullets.
During an interview with police, the student said he planned on selling the gun, but Clark said other interviews sug- gested that the student was about to run away from home and wanted the weapon as protection. He allegedly stole the gun from a family member.
Clark said that he does not believe the student planned on harming anyone with the weapon.
The school district sent out emails and recorded phone messages to FHS parents and sta on Jan. 29 informing them of the situation.
“Due diligence today enabled this inci-
dent to be handled promptly with appro-
priate actions by FHS sta ,” the message
read. “This serves as a good reminder
to all of us to talk to our students, know
where they are at all times and report any
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suspicious activity.”
news@ atheadbeacon.com
FEBRUARY 10, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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