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Family Reacts to Justine Winter’s Pending Release Sister of woman killed in 2009 car crash hopes Evergreen has ‘learned the value of life’
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BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
Family members of a mother and her son killed in a 2009 wreck on U.S. High- way 93 said they were surprised to learn the woman responsible for the crash will be released this year.
However, Amber Young also said she hopes that Justine Winter, the Ever- green woman who went to prison after being convicted on two counts of delib- erate homicide, has found “meaning and purpose” in her life. On Sept. 21, the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole granted Winter, 22, parole upon comple- tion of a pre-release program in Billings. It is likely that Winter will be free by the end of the year.
“It was sooner than any of us expected,” said Young, sister and aunt to the crash’s victims, Erin Thompson, 35, and Caden Odell, 13. “But I need to do what will make my heart happy and for me that’s to wish Justine well and send her love.
“I hope she has learned skills for
BRIEFS
Fourth Sex Sting Suspect Sentenced
A Kalispell man was handed a 15-year suspended sentence to the Montana State Prison after pleading guilty to sexual abuse of children.
Karl Cilroy Wortley, 35, appeared in Flathead County District Court on Sept. 24, more than a year after he and five other local men were caught in a sex-sting run by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. As part of his sentencing, Wortley will have to reg- ister as a level I sex offender. He will be given credit for time served.
According to court documents, Wort- ley responded to an ad placed online by undercover agents, saying he wanted to help a girl lose her virginity. Agents reported sending him a photo of what appeared to be a 12-year-old girl.
Charging documents allege that Wort- ley then sent sexually explicit messages about the girl, and that he indicated he would bring condoms to meet her. On Aug. 19, 2014, agents had texted him an address in Flathead County, where offi- cers confronted him and found condoms in his pocket. Wortley allegedly admitted to going to the residence for sex with the girl.
Wortley initially denied the allega- tions but earlier this year he pleaded guilty.
coping and dealing with emotion and that she understands the value of life, both her own and others,” Young said.
Winter was 16 years old in March 2009 when she got into a fight with her boyfriend and later that night deliber- ately drove her car across the centerline of U.S. Highway 93 north of Kalispell, crashing into another vehicle, driven by Thompson, who was pregnant at the time. Thompson and Odell were both killed in the crash, but Winter survived. In Febru- ary 2011, Winter was found guilty of two counts of deliberate homicide. She was later given two concurrent 30-year sen- tences with 15 years suspended on each.
During the trial, Winter never apol- ogized for what happened. But accord- ing to Young, Winter sent a letter to the family last year and expressed remorse for the crash. Winter first applied for parole in 2014 but the board denied her request. However, it recommended her for a pre-release center.
According to board executive director Timothy Allred, Winter has been in the
Columbia Falls Man Arrested on Robbery, Assault Charges
A Columbia Falls man has been arrested and charged with robbery and assault with a weapon more than a year after he allegedly took a woman’s purse at knifepoint.
Justin Eugene Hetrick was arrested on Sept. 21 and will be arraigned in Flat- head County District Court on Oct. 8.
According to court documents, on March 28, 2014, Hetrick walked up to a woman who was putting her groceries in her car at the Smith’s Foods parking lot in Columbia Falls. Hetrick tried to grab the woman’s purse and when she told him to stop he said, “I have a knife, do you want to get cut?” Hetrick then allegedly took the knife and cut the purse strap and the woman’s hand. Hetrick grabbed the purse and ran away.
A bystander saw the robbery and tried to follow Hetrick on a four-wheeler, but Hetrick allegedly lunged at the man with the knife. The man fell off of his vehi- cle and Hetrick fled on foot. Later on, a Columbia Falls Police Officer found Het- rick pacing near a home on Second Ave- nue West. When the officer approached, Hetrick ran inside and slammed the door.
The Flathead County Attorney’s Office filed charges against Hetrick in July and a warrant for his arrest was signed soon after. If convicted, Hetrick could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
program since December 2014. She spent the first six months as an inmate worker and is now living at a pre-release center in Billings. At the pre-release center, Win- ter has been able to get a job and go into the public.
“(A pre-release center) helps people transition back into the community,” he said.
Now that the board has approved Winter’s eventual release, she will work with a case manager to create a plan for future housing and employment. A parole officer must approve the plan before she is released. Winter is expected to move to Missoula following her release.
Young said the last few years have been tough for her family but that she is hopeful that Winter will be able to do something worthwhile with her life.
“Erin, Caden and the baby are forever in our hearts,” Young said. “And I hope they are in Justine’s heart too.”
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Kalispell Man Arrested After Leading Law Enforcement on Foot, Air Chase
A Kalispell man led police on a chase on the ground that would eventually involve a helicopter on Sept. 22 after he allegedly walked into a house northwest of Whitefish.
According to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry, 32-year-old Richard Flint was arrested on Tuesday and is being held on revocation of conditions of release for a prior offense. However, Curry said Flint is a person of interest in other area vehi- cle and storage unit thefts and additional charges may be forthcoming.
According to Curry, dispatch received a report from a woman northwest of Whitefish that a man had walked into her house on Beaver Lake Road. When she confronted the man he said he didn’t know that anyone was home and then asked to use the phone.
The woman kicked him out of the house and called police. Later, a deputy found a man fitting the description of the one who walked into the house ear- lier and tried to talk to him. When police approached, the man ran into the woods. The deputy followed the man but quickly lost him. Soon after, Two Bear Air was launched and they helped spot the man in the woods.
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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