Page 17 - Flathead Beacon // 11.2.16

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County to Begin $1.3 Million Jail Expansion Extra space will add 40 beds to current jail but sheri says it’s not a long-term solution
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BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
Contractors are expected to start tear- ing down walls in the old county attor- ney’s o ce the rst week of November to make way for a $1.3 million expansion of Flathead County’s crowded jail.
Last week, the Flathead County Com- mission nalized jail expansion plans with engineers. The expansion will add approximately 40 new beds to the Flat- head County Detention Center, a facil- ity built 30 years ago to hold about 60 inmates but today frequently hosts more than 100.
On the weekend of Oct. 29, there were 136 inmates in the jail, the most the facil- ity has ever housed at one time.
Sheri Chuck Curry said he is excited to have the extra space but maintained that a new jail is still needed.
BRIEFS
Flathead County Man Accused of Kidnapping Pleads Guilty to Criminal Endangerment
A Flathead County man accused of kidnapping and tying up a woman at gun- point has pleaded guilty to charges of fel- ony criminal endangerment and theft.
Jason Tad Pennington, 39, appeared in Flathead County District Court on Oct. 24 at a change of plea hearing. He will be sentenced on Dec. 22.
According to court records, Penning- ton was at the victim’s home in Flat- head County when he became angry and threatened to kill her and others in June. Pennington allegedly used zip ties to restrain the woman’s ankles and wrists and drove her into Kalispell with her vehicle. The woman also told police that at one point, Pennington strangled her and pointed a gun at her head.
Once they arrived in Kalispell, Pen- nington told the woman if she tried to escape he would shoot her.
Eventually, Pennington removed the zip ties from the woman’s wrists and ankles.
The woman reported Pennington to police and he was arrested at her home two days later. However, when the sher- i ’s deputy arrived at the Flathead County Detention Center, Pennington tried to escape on foot. O cers quickly restrained him.
A month after being charged with kidnapping and assault with a weapon, Pennington was also charged with theft following an unrelated incident where the defendant had stolen a man’s four- wheeler. Pennington pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
On Oct. 21, Pennington signed a deal agreeing to plead guilty to an amended
“We’ll ll these new beds within a week,” he said. “This isn’t a long-term solution.”
Curry said county o cials hope to complete the expansion into the old county attorney’s o ce — which has moved to a new space across the street — in the spring of 2017.
County o cials say operating the expanded jail will cost another $500,000 in the coming years, to cover two new employees and other services and supplies.
Curry said the vast majority of inmates at the county jail are there for felony o enses, which means people who have been charged with or convicted of a mis- demeanor rarely see the inside of the jail, unless it’s a violent crime. Curry said not punishing misdemeanor o enders could lead to bigger problems later on.
“If you don’t discipline your kids for
charge of criminal endangerment and theft. The state will recommend a 20-year sentence to the Department of Corrections with 15 years suspended and the defendant will argue for a 15 year DOC commitment with 10 years sus- pended. The defendant will also ask that he be screened for boot camp.
Helena Man Admits to Firing Gun in Glacier Park Stando
A 28-year-old Helena man pleaded guilty to ring a gun and endangering people nearly four months after a stand- o that forced the evacuation of a camp- ground in Glacier National Park.
Jesiah Richards appeared on federal charges in U.S. District Court in Great Falls on Oct. 25 and agreed to pay a $530 ne.
According to court documents, Richards shot a round from a .44 cali- ber revolver through the roof of his tent on the evening of July 9 at the Sprague Creek Campground. He then left his campsite and headed for the shores of Lake McDonald where a stando with National Park Service rangers took place, according to charging documents.
“The campground was lled and peo- ple were all around the site,” charging documents state. “(Richards) proceeded with the revolver still loaded with ve live rounds and took up a position along the lakeshore of Lake McDonald at the edge of the campground. Not until four armed law enforcement rangers confronted him did he eventually give up the rearm and surrender.”
Carrying a rearm in Glacier Park is legal following a change to the law in 2010. However, ring a weapon in Glacier is illegal.
little things, sooner or later they’ll start doing bigger things like burning your house down,” Curry said. “That’s what we’re seeing here in Flathead County. Misdemeanor o enders turn into felony o enders.”
While contractors are knocking down walls to expand the current jail, county o cials are focusing their attention on post-expansion plans. Flathead County recently received a $40,000 Commu- nity Development Block Grant to begin planning for a potential new jail. County Administrator Mike Pence said once the grant money has arrived, o cials will begin studying exactly what type of facility the community needs and where it should be located. The county will also look at the possibility of expanding the current jail again.
jfranz@ atheadbeacon.com
Three Creston Murder Suspects Set For Trial in 2017
A week after Robert Matthew Wittal was convicted of murdering Wade Allen Rautio in the woods east of Creston last spring, his three co-defendants are still awaiting trial.
Melisa Crone, Christopher Hansen and David Toman are all expected to stand trial in March 2017. All three have been accused of accountability to delib- erate homicide. Crone has also been charged with possession of dangerous drugs. All three defendants have denied the allegations.
According to court documents and testimony at Wittal’s trial, Toman drove Rautio, Wittal and Hansen to an area o Foothills Road east of Creston. Once there, Wittal stabbed Rautio 25 times, including eight times in the back and once in the head. Hansen also punched Rautio and provided Wittal with a second knife after Wittal lost the rst one.
On June 13, the Flathead County Sher- i ’s O ce received a report of a murder near Creston. Upon further investiga- tion, they found Rautio’s body in a creek near Peters Ridge. All four suspects were apprehended within a few days.
Prosecutors believe that Rautio was killed at Crone’s request. According to witnesses, Crone believed that Rautio had stolen drugs from her.
A jury found Wittal guilty on Oct. 20. He will remain at the Flathead County Detention Center until his sentencing on Jan. 17, 2017. He faces a maximum sen- tence of life in prison.
news@ atheadbeacon.com
NOVEMBER 2, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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