SAN FRANCISCO – Former Vann’s CEO George Manlove is asking for his conviction on more than a hundred counts in a federal fraud case to be overturned, arguing he was denied a fair trial because of prosecutor’s questions.

Manlove was convicted last year on 170 counts after the trial in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

He was implicated on charges of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through fraud, money laundering and other crimes while he was the CEO of the Missoula-based retailer.

The company would eventually file for bankruptcy.

Now, Manlove’s attorney is taking the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing prosecutors were allowed to use “calculated, sustained and improper use of leading questions” during the trial, especially with co-defendant Paul Nisbet on the stand.

Defense attorney Daniel Donovan complains that prevented the defense team from “weighing the credibility” of Nisbet’s testimony against Manlove.

Manlove has been serving a five-year sentence that started last summer.

Reporting by Dennis Bragg for MTN News

HELENA – A Helena suspect is charged with two counts of felony strangulation.

Prosecutors say Shane Matthew Kroll strangled an intimate partner twice in the space of a few days.

Helena Police were called to a domestic disturbance on Logan Street early Thursday morning.

They found a victim who said the 39 year old Kroll allegedly strangled her until she lost consciousness during an argument.

She also told officers Kroll had allegedly strangled her Wednesday as well.

The victim said she believed Kroll was going to kill her.

Kroll allegedly told law officers that he’d almost strangled the victim to death. He also allegedly told law officers he would kill her.

Bond in the case has been set at $10,000.00.

MISSOULA – An armed fugitive that lead authorities on a five-hour manhunt through East Missoula this week told authorities he “wanted to die by cop” but could not follow through.

In court documents, when authorities asked the defendant William “Billy” Newhoff why he caused so much damage to property and put so many lives in danger Tuesday, he responded that he was facing live in prison and figured “it would be better to die.”

Newhoff told authorities after he crashed his truck, he ran looking for a place to hide and found an open door on a trailer.

Once he determined no one was inside, he put on the homeowners clothes and locked the door.

Officers found Newhoff nearly five hours later in a trailer on the 500 block of Speedway Loop with the homeowner.

A corporal and deputy saw Newhoff standing behind the door of a room holding pistol in his right hand.

The corporal pointed his service weapon at Newhoff and ordered him to show his hands.

Newhoff initially ignored the Corporal’s orders, but later dropped the pistol on the floor.

Authorities directed Newhoff to step out of the doorway, but he refused stating, “just shoot me”, but officers were able to detain Newhoff.

Newhoff made his initial appearance in Missoula County Justice Court Thursday afternoon where his bail was set at $150,000.

View the court documents here.

Fugitive who sparked East Missoula manhunt due in court

Reporting by Connor McCauley for MTN News

A Helena woman is accused of stealing a vehicle from outside the Grubstake Bar. Alisia Landis, 30 years old, is being charged with felony theft.

An officer took a report of a stolen vehicle early in the morning on January 20. The victim said she had left the car running to warm up when it was stolen, according to court documents.

Court documents say Landis was identified through surveillance video stealing the car.

On January 22, a deputy responded to Landis’ home for an unrelated call. The court documents say a resident of the home told the officer she had witnessed Landis steal the vehicle from a bar in the county.

On January 31, a deputy went to speak with Landis about the theft. In the interview, Landis said she remembered going to the bar, but didn’t remember taking the vehicle.

No bond was set, as Landis was released on recognizance. Landis promised, in writing, to appear in court for all upcoming proceedings.

She will be arraigned later this month.

The U.S. Marshals Service District of Montana has issued a BOLO Alert (be on the lookout) for Dante King.

King is wanted by the Violent Offender Task Force based on a felony warrant for assault with a weapon.

King, 35, is described as a black male, 6’1″ tall, weighing n250 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about King is asked to call the U.S. Marshal Service at 406- 247-7030 or your local law enforcement agency.

HAMILTON – A judge has sentenced former Florence doctor Chris Christensen to 20 years in prison with 10 of those years suspended.

Ravalli County District Court Judge Jeffery Langton said prior to Friday morning’s sentencing that two very different pictures were painted of Christensen during the trial.

The judge added that Christensen told investigators that he wouldn’t change anything and “would do it all over again,” adding that Christensen has not expressed remorse or taken any responsibility for his actions.

Langton ruled that parole conditions will include a mental health evaluation due to the state’s concerns about Christensen’s narcissistic tendencies.

Christensen will remain out on bail until the appeal process is complete which defense attorneys say could take close to a year. Meanwhile, his license to practice medicine remains suspended.

More information to come.

– information from Augusta McDonnell included in this report.

(first report)

HAMILTON – A Ravalli County courtroom is packed with spectators as the sentencing of former Florence doctor Chris Christensen has begun.

Prosecutors asking that Christensen be sentenced to 50 years in Montana State Prison with none of that time suspended. Christensen was convicted last year on more than 20 counts — including negligent homicide for the deaths of two patients.

The jury verdict was the culmination of a raid and investigation into his Florence clinic that dates nearly four years. Christensen originally faced hundreds of charges of over-prescribing and mis-prescribing drugs and the deaths of two patients.

Those charges were consolidated for the trial, but Christensen still faces penalties that total more than 400 years in jail and fines that could go as high as $50,000.

Ravalli County District Court Judge Jeffery Langton has warned everyone in the courtroom to keep their silence, strong opinions to themselves.

Click here to follow along with live coverage from the courtroom.

BOZEMAN – The son of a Bozeman man accused of killing his estranged wife in early January reportedly told investigators that he was in the house with his father when two women were shot, one fatally.

According to charging documents filed Thursday, Feb. 1, the teenage son of Joseph Paul DeWise told investigators that he had been in the Belgrade house on Jan. 7 when his stepmother Lauren Walder DeWise, 35, was shot and killed. Another woman, Ashley Van Hemert, was also shot and severely injured.

DeWise has been charged with deliberate homicide and attempted deliberate homicide, both felonies. Dewise remains jailed at the Gallatin County Detention Center.

Dewise was arrested on Jan. 11. On Jan. 12, detectives conducted interviews with two of DeWise’s children. During the interview, the 15-year-old boy provided information similar to what he had said in earlier interviews. When shown a pair of tan boots, the boy indicated he had a pair just like them that his mother had purchased from Walmart in Florida. When asked where they were, the boy said he threw them away a week or two earlier, because they had been torn.

He told detectives that the boots were size 6. The boy also said his father didn’t have matching boots but did have some similar boots.

Investigators were interested in the boots due to shoe impressions left at the scene in Belgrade. An size analysis of one boot impression was estimated to be a size 6 to 6 1/2.

On Saturday, Jan. 13, DeWise’s ex-wife arrived from Florida to meet with her children. A detective met her at the airport and informed her that her son may have more information about what had happened or possibly could have been forced to be a part of the homicide.

When asked if the boy could be interviewed after advising him of his rights, so very specific questions regarding his knowledge or involvement could be asked, the mother and son agreed to waive the boy’s rights.

The boy initially remained consistent with the information he had previously provided, but when challenged about his boots and that he had not gotten rid of them before the homicide, he indicated he did not have a choice.

He told law enforcement he feared for his sisters and felt like he had to go with his father on the night of the shootings. He said DeWise told him to come with him and get in the car, and when asked where they were going, DeWise reportedly told his son that he did not need to know.

When the pair got to the Belgrade home, the boy told investigators that his father told him to get out of the car and to “follow me.” He said his father also had a pistol that he’d never seen before.

He said his father kicked in the door of the house in Belgrade where Lauren and Van Hemert resided.

The boy told officers that he was in the living room when he heard gunshots. His father then came back and told the boy to go to the car. On the way back to their house, the boy said DeWise stopped and purchased beer.

When they arrived back at their house, DeWise told the boy to give him his boots. DeWise then left the home for a while and came back.

After DeWise returned to the home, he told the boy what to say and that he had to stick to that story or DeWise would go to prison.

The boy also told investigators that he and DeWise had left their phones at their home before the shooting.

Detectives identified shoe impressions at the scene in Belgrade that indicated there were two suspects. One impression was identified as being consistent with that of the boot allegedly belonging to the boy. The other was consistent with a men’s Merrell Reflex hiking shoe. Video surveillance of DeWise from the gas station on Jan. 7, shows the man wearing what appears to be Merrell Reflex hiking shoes.

During a search of DeWise’s home, vehicle and person, no hiking shoes matching the description were found.

In a press release on Jan. 17, law enforcement asked for the public’s help as they are seeking items that were “possibly disposed of after a criminal act.” According to the statement, the items being sought are:

• One pair of tan boots
• One pair of tan/black hiking shoes
• Two pairs of gloves
• A Garmin GPS unit
• A pistol

Reporting by Kaitlin Corbett, Ken Spencer and Morgan Davies.

Previous:

BELGRADE – A man was arrested Thursday afternoon on a charge of deliberate homicide for the death of his wife, Lauren Walder DeWise. Belgrade Police Chief E.J. Clark stated in a press release that Joseph Paul DeWise is being held on $1 million bail.

Lauren Dewise was killed Sunday in a shooting on Idaho Street in Belgrade.

According to charging documents, a woman who resided with Lauren DeWise at the Idaho Street residence reported on Sunday that Lauren was fatally injured, and another roommate, Ashley Van Hemert, was injured and asking for help.

Belgrade Police officers along with Gallatin County Sheriff deputies arrived to find the rear entrance to the home damaged. The woman who reported the incident told officers she immediately suspected Joseph Paul DeWise.

Emergency responders confirmed that Lauren DeWise was dead and transported Van Hemert to receive emergency medical attention.

The third roommate was taken to Belgrade Police Department, where she told officers Lauren had recently ended an abusive relationship with Joseph Paul DeWise.

Based on the roommate’s interview, officers began looking for DeWise and initiated a traffic stop when they located him driving near his residence around 10:30 a.m. Sunday. He had his three children in the vehicle with him; Lauren is the mother of the youngest, a 4-year-old. Dewise informed officers he had firearms in the vehicle.

DeWise was detained and taken to the Gallatin County Justice Center. He waived his rights and allegedly denied any involvement in Lauren’s death during his interview. He claimed he spent the night before with his children, then took his family to church at 8 a.m. Sunday morning. DeWise also told officers he owned multiple firearms, including a .22 long rifle, .22 magnum, and other calibers.

Multiple interviews with friends and co-workers of Lauren painted the picture of an abusive history between her and DeWise, with him making repeated attempts to contact her after she left the relationship.

Based on interviews, data from DeWise’s cell phone, and evidence from the crime scene, authorities determined there was sufficient probable cause to arrest and charge Joseph Paul DeWise with deliberate homicide.

Domestic violence support service HAVEN issued a statement about the alleged homicide Thursday evening:

“A banking center manager at Rocky Mountain Bank in Bozeman, Lauren was a kindhearted, caring friend and mother. She was driven in her career and always pushed herself to be better in everything she did. We are particularly devastated for Lauren’s three-year-old daughter. No child should ever have to experience the loss of their mother through such tragedy or endure the suffering caused by violence in the home.”

(1.11.18 report)

BELGRADE – Joseph Paul DeWise was arrested on an initial charge of deliberate homicide. He is being held on $1 million bond, according to the Gallatin County Detention Center Jail roster.

Dewise is the estranged husband of Lauren Walder DeWise, who was killed Sunday in a shooting on Idaho Street in Belgrade.

Belgrade Police Chief E.J. Clark issued the following statement Thursday afternoon:

All Citizens,

The entire team of officers working this investigation would like to report that an Arrest Warrant was issued this afternoon and served in Bozeman, Montana.

Officers Arrested:

Joseph Paul DeWise, 46 y.o.a. , male resident of Bozeman, Montana for Deliberate Homicide in the shooting death of his wife, Lauren DeWise.

DeWise was arrested during a traffic stop at approximately 1530 hrs. without incident and transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center.

Bail Amount has been set at $1,000,000.00.

Please understand that this investigation is still active and more charges are likely in the near future.

More detailed and factual information can be found in the charging documents that have been filed with the Gallatin County Justice Court located at the Law and Justice Center.

Thank you,

Chief E. J. Clark

MISSOULA – A Frenchtown music teacher now faces a felony sexual assault charge after prosecutors say he inappropriately touched a female student on a near daily-basis.

Missoula Deputy County Attorney Brian Lowney filed the charge in Missoula County Justice Court on Monday against Frenchtown teacher Troy Bashor. This new charge comes after a separate misdemeanor sexual assault charge was filed against him in October involving another student.

Bashor pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor in November. That first student claimed Bashor sexually harassed and groped her on several occasions in 2016.

Prosecutors say the new charge stems from inappropriate contact that spanned from the summer of 2014 to early 2017.

The girl involved in the new charge reported the contact escalated from hugging to groping.

The student said the first incident happened when she was in 7th grade.

In court documents she reported to her mother about the inappropriate hugging and was confused about it and asked her mother if it was appropriate.

The mother reported the touching to Frenchtown administrators who then told the student and her parents that Bashor was warned to stop such contact.

However, that student indicated that though the touching stopped for several months, it began again at the end of 2014 and continued through her next two years in school.

She told authorities she believes that the defendant has touched her in some way every day since the touching began again at the end of seventh grade.

Bashor has acknowledged that he had touched the student’s lower back on at least one occasion, but characterized such touching as “innocuous.”

View the court documents here.

Connor McCauley contributed to this report

Reporting by Melissa Rafferty for MTN News

2 students claim Frenchtown choir teacher assaulted them
Case referred back to detectives involving alleged sex abuse by Frenchtown choir teacher
Frenchtown teacher pleads not guilty to sex assault charge
Jury trial sought in sexual assault allegation against Frenchtown teacher
Attorneys: Frenchtown School District didn’t “ignore reports” of teacher’s sexual assault

GREAT FALLS – Roy Edward Scott has been sentenced to 15 years, with 10 of the years suspended, to the Montana State Prison for the death of his wife Stephanie Wells.

Scott was found guilty of negligent homicide in November 2017 for her death.

Court documents state that a Great Falls police officer was dispatched to a home on the 400 block at 3:25 a.m. on March 26th, 2016, for a report of a woman who was not breathing.

When the officer arrived, medical personnel were performing CPR on Stephanie, but Great Falls Fire Rescue personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.

When questioned by police, Scott said that he and his wife – Stephanie – had gone to the North 40 Bar for drinks earlier that night. Scott said that when he and Wells arrived home, he took their truck keys from her because she was an alcoholic and would “often try to leave the house and drive intoxicated.”

Court documents state that Scott and Wells then began arguing, and it became physical, and she began to hit him.

The court document states:

“Roy said they fell off of the bed in a physical struggle. Once on the floor, Roy stated that he physically restrained her. He stated that they were both lying on the floor and he put his arms around her in an attempt to control her arms. He demonstrated this as holding her in a bear hug fashion. Roy said he used his legs to pin her legs down to stop her from kicking.”

Scott told police that he believes he held her for 10-15 minutes in this fashion, until she “stopped kicking and whining.”

At that point, according to the charging documents, he noticed that her face appeared blue and she was not breathing. He then yelled for his teen son to help him, and his son called 911. Scott told police that he and his son performed CPR until emergency personnel arrived.

Reporting by Margaret DeMarco for MTN News

BILLINGS – Grace United Methodist Church was vandalized with Nazi graffiti and anti-LGBTQ literature Thursday night, according to Church Council President Angie Buckley.

This comes just over a week after a similar act of vandalism occurred at the church. Also hit during that spree was Billings Senior High School, Lewis & Clark Middle School and nearby homes.

A rainbow flag hung inside a window was spray painted with a swastika and a plexiglass sign outside the church reading “all are welcome” was broken and the phrase “not gays” was spray painted on it.

The vandals also broke into the building and tagged the choir door with a swastika before posting anti-LGBTQ brochures on the walls. They also put a sticker with similar propaganda on the roof.

Multiple doors leading into the church were left open as well.

This is a developing story. Check back for information as it becomes available.

HARDIN – School was closed in Hardin on Friday, following social media threats from the student who allegedly brought a gun to school last Friday.

Hardin Schools Superintendent Dennis Gerke said it has been a difficult week for all of those involved in the school.

“This is my 34th year in education,” said Gerke. “And in 34 years I’ve never dealt with an incident involving a weapon at this level. When it actually happened on Friday we had some kids that were really scared.”

It began on Friday, when Uttekaat Birdinground, a 17-year-old student at Hardin High School, allegedly brought a gun to school. He was searched and no gun was found, but he was sent home for the day.

It was Saturday that the gun was found by an art teacher, Nora Block. According to prosecutors, they later discovered Block found the gun in her classroom Friday and hid it in her desk overnight before alerting authorities the next day.

Gerke said the school is extremely disappointed in the teacher’s “poor decision.”

In light of the concerns, law enforcement was at the school every day this week.

On Thursday night, a threat from Birdinground on social media caused law enforcement and school officials to decide to close school on Friday.

“Really what our ultimate goal is we want families, parents, the community…we want them to come to school feeling safe,” said Gerke. “That is the atmosphere we really want to establish, and have established here at Hardin High school.”

While it has been a difficult week at the school, Gerke said he’s thankful it wasn’t worse.

Reporting by Samantha Harrelson for MTN News

GREAT FALLS – Debra Kay Thomas, a teacher at Whittier Elementary School in Great Falls, has been placed on administrative leave after being charged with forgery and theft of identity.

According to the Whittier Elementary School website, Thomas is a sixth-grade teacher.

Great Falls Public Schools superintendent Tammy Lacey said in a press release on Friday that the district was notified on Thursday that Thomas had been arrested and charged, and immediately put her on administrative leave.

On Friday, the District’s Human Resource Department began its own internal investigation into the matter. Lacey said Thomas will remain on leave until the investigation is concluded and appropriate action is determined.

Lacey said that if the allegations are true, the “charges are very concerning and certainly do not represent the conduct expected of any GFPS employee. The District will continue its efforts to impart to its employees the high ethical standards that are expected of them.”Debra Kay Thomas

Court documents state that in July 2016, Thomas talked with the victim – identified in court documents as Jane Doe – about obtaining a $3,500 loan to assist Thomas in buying a home. Doe issued a check on a credit card account for $3,500, and Thomas was supposed to repay her.

Shortly after the loan was made, Thomas suggested to Doe that she (Thomas) just make the payments directly to the credit card company; Doe agreed. Thomas then asked for and obtained all of Doe’s personal and account information.

Court documents state: “Doe, who has been friends with Thomas for 30 years, did not question Thomas when she requested her personal information.” Doe believed that Thomas needed the information in order to make the credit card payments, and assumed that Thomas was making the payments toward the $3,500 loan.

As time went on, Doe stopped receiving the credit card statements at her home, and in October 2016, Doe contacted the credit card company and found out that Thomas had charged thousands of dollars under a credit card that she (Thomas) had obtained from the company. The company told Doe that there were “many more charges” on the account in excess of the initial $3,500 loan.

Doe tried to contact Thomas to find out what was happening, but Thomas did not respond. Doe then contacted law enforcement officers, who obtained records from the accounts and a statement from Doe about the situation.

Doe told police that at no time had she authorized Thomas to put her own name of Doe’s account. Doe also told police that she no longer works, has medical issues, and is currently in serious financial hardship as she is responsible for paying on the account.

A Great Falls police officer contacted Thomas, who said that she was an authorized user on the account, and claimed that Doe had given her permission to add herself to the account, and that there had been no agreement on the repayment of the account. Thomas claimed that she was authorized, and in an email said that she never had the statement mailed directly to her.

However, the GFPD officer had documentation that Thomas did change the mailing address directly from the credit card company.

Court documents state that in December 2016, shortly after the statements were switched to Thomas’ address, Thomas stopped making any payments on the account.

Thomas continued to make charges on the account, and as of January 2017, the balance was more than $8,265.

The court documents state: “Thomas ceased making any payments on the account and Doe is now faced with paying the account after Thomas falsely assumed her identity to add her name to the account, obtained a credit card in her name, and changed the mailing address to her residence in Great Falls. Doe attempted to contact Thomas about this and has been blocked on all efforts to make contact.”

HAMILTON – A former Florence doctor was sentenced Friday after a jury found him guilty of nearly two dozen felonies, including two counts of negligent homicide.

However, he won’t be going to prison unless the Montana Supreme Court affirms his conviction, even after Judge Jeffrey Langton found Dr. Chris Christensen was “careless to the extreme with some patients.”

The former doctor received 20 years in prison with ten of those suspended, but he will remain free on a $200,000 bond until the appeal process is over.

Even though Christensen was sentenced for the 22 felony counts he was found guilty of last year, it doesn’t mean that he is headed to prison right away.

Judge James Langton, who has been presiding over this case since Christensen first went under investigation for over-prescribing opioids in 2014, said that he did not think the former doctor was a flight risk or an immediate threat to the community.

Just before handing down the sentence, the judge said he was reluctant to place Christensen with other inmates.

“I’m reluctant to put the defendant in a prison setting with the types of people that are there,” Langton said. “On the other hand, that is really the only tool in my toolbox.”

Although Christensen did not make a statement, his attorney responded to some things he did say on record during the pre-sentencing investigation process, indicating that he had no remorse for his actions, and quote “would do it all over again.”

“I would say on his behalf, that he is behalf, that I know he is regretful for the deaths. I have talked to him about it. He is deeply regretful for bad outcomes for all of his patients,” said defense attorney Josh Van Der Wetering. “That is the way he is. One can be regretful and wish for alternative outcomes without saying that one is the cause of death. We’re of course saying that he is not the cause of death.”

Judge Langton acknowledged that Christensen had a history of prescribing “extremely shocking levels of opiates.”

But the judge said he took into account the supportive statements of more than 50 people who spoke up on Christensen’s behalf.

The appeal process could take as long as a year. The judge said that because so many “novel applications of the law” occurred in the case, he expects the high court to give the proceedings a thorough review.

In the meantime, Christensen is not allowed to practice medicine. His attorney asked that the $26,000 in court costs be waived because Christensen is close to $1 million in debt.

Reporting by Augusta McDonnell for MTN News

BILLINGS – A Billings man was in jail Sunday for allegedly raping a teenage girl behind Hobby Lobby during her lunch break.

Dylan Patrick Curtin, 20, is charged in Yellowstone County Justice Court with one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Police began investigating after a 15-year-old girl told her school resource officer that she had been sexually assaulted that day during the lunch hour.

The girl said she was supposed to meet up with friends for lunch but decided to walk home because she could not find them.

As she was walking, the girl came across Curtin, who she recognized from Facebook and a prior meeting.

The girl went with Curtin to Hardee’s on 24th Street to get lunch.

According to the victim, Curtin said on the way that he wanted her to see something in the alley behind Hobby Lobby.

When they got to the alley, Curtin allegedly put his hand on the girl’s thigh and said he loved her before forcibly raping her.

The victim reported that she stopped fighting back because she was afraid of Curtin, who allegedly bit her during the assault.

Curtin walked the victim back to school after the rape and told the victim he felt bad for “making her do something she did not want to do,” according to court documents.

After reporting the rape to her school resource officer, the girl was taken to the hospital for a sexual assault exam.

Officers got a search warrant for a DNA sample from Curtin, which matched the DNA from the victim’s exam.

During the interview with officers, Curtin reportedly thought he was being questioned about a different accuser.

Curtin then denied raping the victim.

He’s being held at the Yellowstone County jail on $200,000 bond.

HELENA – A suspect from Clancy is charged with possession of heroin and meth following in an incident in October.

Chance Allen Harbour is charged with two counts of felony possession of dangerous drugs.

Prosecutors say back in October medical units and Sheriff’s deputies found Harbour lying unresponsive on the basement floor of a Winston Street residence.

His mother told investigators the 23 year-old Harbour has a history of methamphetamine use.

Law officers allegedly found quantities of heroin and meth with Harbour, along with a syringe and other drug paraphernalia.

Bond in the case has been set at $25,000.

BILLINGS – Terrance Edwards, accused of trafficking women and children in Montana for prostitution, testified in his own defense on Monday, claiming that he’s an entrepreneur, former firefighter, and a romantic – but not a pimp.

Edwards, 35 years old, is charged in U.S. District Court in Billings with 10 prostitution-related charges.

Edwards testified for more than six hours Monday during his sixth day of trial.

“We were hustle buddies,” Edwards testified about his relationship with one woman, who claimed Edwards kidnapped her and forced her into prostitution. “Two people running around together making money.”

Prosecutors allege Edwards trafficked three women for commercial sex work in Montana and surrounding states and transported three teenage girls to Billings with the same intent.

But Edwards said Monday he never directed anyone to have sex for money and argued that the women who claim they did work as prostitutes did so without his knowledge.

Edwards testified that the women who worked for him through his business “Dreams United Modeling and Entertainment” asked him to help them make money.

Edwards admitted that he wrote the ads for Backpage.com and helped the women post the ads.

The defense attorney asked Edwards about the ads promise that the woman would carry out the customer’s every desire.

“It’s like Burger King,” said Edwards. “The customer is always right but not at the expense of your self-respect.”

Some messages to Edwards refer to him as “pimp,” which Edwards shrugged off as a playful word meaning “cool.”

“It’s a slang term,” said Edwards. “Sometimes it’s an acronym, like Positive Influence on My People. It doesn’t mean the dude’s actually prostituting women for money.”

Edwards described for the jury the many books he reads on “metaphysics” and said he read books about power and attraction out of curiosity, not to learn how to manipulate women.

Throughout his testimony, Edwards described the escort company as just one of the many “legitimate” ways he worked to earn an honest income.

The jury was shown photos of Edwards as a wildland firefighter, photos of handbags he made while serving his last prison term, and check stubs from a furniture moving service he was employed through.

Edwards claimed the three teenage girls he transported from North Dakota to Billings in the middle of the night were to work as models for his handbag company.

Edwards said one girl’s testimony that she never saw a handbag was a lie.

Prosecutors have yet to question Edwards directly about the case.

Testimony is expected to continue Tuesday.

Reporting by Aja Goare for MTN News

Timothy Weaver of the Dearborn area pleaded guilty last week to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of child pornography.

Weaver was originally charged in Cascade County court, but the case was moved to federal court due to the nature of the charges.

The incidents in question took place between March of 2010 and June of 2016.

Weaver will be sentenced on May 17th.

Court documents include the following information:

In August 2016, the Cascade County Sheriff’s office was conducting a criminal investigation, and Defendant Timothy Weaver’s residence in Cascade, Montana, was searched pursuant to a search warrant. Items were seized including an eMachines computer, a Polaroid Tablet, and a Microsoft cellular telephone. The items were submitted for forensic analysis and review.
The examiner located files that depicted children engaged in sexually explicit conduct as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2256. These files include images of “Jane Doe” engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The files containing images of “Jane Doe” are dated July 10, 2011 and June 26, 2016. In addition to images of “Jane Doe,” Weaver possessed images of other children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The examiner determined that Weaver received the images depicting children other than “Jane Doe” on the eMachines computer between March 30, 2010, through on or about April 18, 2016. The examiner concluded that the eMachines computer, the Polaroid Tablet and the Microsoft telephone were all used to facilitate the commissions of the offenses.

Count 1 – Sexual Exploitation of a Child, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251: First, at the time, “Jane Doe” was under the age of eighteen years; Second, that on or about July 10, 2011, the defendant knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed or coerced the minor to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; and Third, knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction would be transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, and using materials that have been mailed, shipped, and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.

Count 67 – Sexual Exploitation of a Child, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251: First, at the time, “Jane Doe” was under the age of eighteen years; Second, on or about June 26, 2016, the defendant knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed or coerced the minor to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; and Third, knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction would be transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, and using materials that have been mailed, shipped, and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.

Count 75 – Receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2): First, that on or about March 30, 2010, through on or about April 18, 2016, the defendant knowingly received a visual depiction using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce, including a computer; Second, that the production of such visual depiction involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; Third, that such visual depiction was of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; Fourth, that the defendant knew that such visual depiction was of sexually explicit conduct; and Fifth, the defendant knew that at least one of the persons engaged in sexually explicit conduct in such visual depiction was a minor.

(AUGUST 23, 2016) Timothy Allen Weaver is facing several felony charges after he allegedly assaulted at least one woman, one child, and a horse.

On August 19th, the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office received word that Weaver was possibly abusing the women and children at his home in the Dearborn area between Great Falls and Helena.

Weaver reportedly got into an argument with one of the women at his home last Tuesday, and he pointed a shotgun at her, threatening to kill both her and another woman if they did not “get off of the mountain” where they live.

As the women and their children fled, Weaver doused himself in gasoline and locked himself in the house, according to court documents.

Further investigation by law enforcement officials revealed that Weaver had repeatedly assaulted the women and at least one of their children.

One of the women told officers that Weaver “has a huge sex appetite” and forced her and the other woman into numerous sexual situations that the women did “not approve of,” but were forced into.

One of the women also told officers that Weaver photographs the sex acts, and has forced her engage in sexual acts with his black horse.

When officers searched the home, they found a “large volume” of pornography, including home-made pornography; Weaver had a photo of a woman inserting her fingers into the vagina of a black horse.

When interviewed by officers, Weaver admitted getting into an argument, grabbing a gun, and telling all of them to get off of the mountain.

Weaver did not dispute an assertion by a 9-year old girl that he had assaulted her recently.

Weaver also admitted having one of the women engage in sexual acts with a horse, and admitted that he may have photographed such acts.

According to court documents, Weaver said he committed sex acts with the horse “to push the envelope and feel loved.”

Weaver also admitted that he was sexually attracted to children; he said that detectives would probably find child pornography in his home.

Court documents allege that Weaver said he knew this was “all wrong,” and asked officers to shoot him.

Prosecutors have requested that bond for Weaver be set at $500,000 because of he risk to the victims if Weaver is released, and the flight risk posed by Weaver due to the nature of the allegations.

Weaver has been charged with deviate sexual conduct (felony); solicitation of deviate sexual conduct (felony); sexual abuse of children (felony); assault on a minor (felony); and partner/family member assault (misdemeanor).

Prosecutors note that additional charges are likely once the digital and photographic media is examined forensically.

Reporting by Margaret DeMarco for MTN News

BOZEMAN – A suspect arrested in East Helena last week appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court on Tuesday to face a charge of attempted homicide for a recent stabbing in Bozeman.

Jonathan Meyer, 20, was arrested in East Helena after being identified as a suspect in the Jan. 19 stabbing on Warbler Way in Bozeman that left the victim with multiple stab wounds in the area around his heart.

Meyer was being held in Helena on a bail amount of $500,000. He asked Justice Court Judge Bryan Adams for a lower bail amount in court on Tuesday.

“I just want the opportunity to be able to spend some time with my family and to be able to work for a little bit longer,” he said.

Judge Adams kept Meyer’s bail at $500,000. If released on bail, Meyers will be required to wear a GPS monitoring device. He is scheduled to appear in Gallatin County District Court on March 2.

Reporting by David Dyas for MTN News

BILLINGS – Property crime can be found in towns of any size, but Billings is witnessing a rise.

Whether it’s burglary, larceny, vehicle theft, or arson, as many as 17 of these crimes happen here each day. That equates to roughly one every 90 minutes, and it’s becoming more frequent.

Billings resident Eli Harmoning has fallen victim to seven thefts in six years.

“My motorcycle twice. Tools. After-market tail lights. Work keys and my garage door opener out of the vehicle. And then my truck,” Harmoning said.

Harmoning keeps a good attitude about what seemed to him like targeting. He thanked law enforcement for their effort but admitted he needed to be persistent to see his property returned.

Latest numbers from the Billings Police Department show 6,093 property crimes occurred in the Billings are in 2016, an uptick from the previous year. Billings police will release 2017 numbers at the end of February.

“Thefts were one of our highest calls for service that our officers went to,” said Lt. Neil Lawrence. “That doesn’t include shoplifting, which is a high number also. Put those together and you have a high level of theft going on.”

Seventy property crimes happened in rural Yellowstone County in January alone, setting a pace for 840 in small towns outside of city limits.

Social media sites and apps have made recovery of stolen items even more difficult.

“There are over 10 sites that we know and look at every once and awhile to at least try to find stolen property,” said Kallie Parsons, Crime Prevention Center volunteer coordinator. “And property could be coming from all over the state and all over the region, not just out of Billings.”

The Crime Prevention Center assists in a number of cases that don’t include suspect descriptions. It finalized more than 1,600 cases in 2017, but officials do not have a count of cases that recovered items.

Volunteers who work at the center want to help recover as much stolen property as possible.

“They do care about these smaller crimes,” Parsons said. “Even though it’s not in progress and it’s not the sexy cases, they still take the time to get the information and want to help these people get their stuff back.”

The most stolen item may surprise you — tools. While it might seem obvious, writing down serial numbers, even creating hidden markings can help protect them before thieves strike.

Lawrence says recovering the stolen property is a slim proposition. Even if it is recovered, it may not be in the condition the item was in when it was stolen.

“There are times we found out who did the theft, we are able to make an arrest. A lot of the times that property is gone. And then the best route is through the courts in order to award some type of compensation back to the victim.”

Harmoning, who admits at times he took the responsibility into his own hands by confronting those who stole his property, has advice.

“Don’t advertise on social media about what you have. Don’t make yourself an easy target. Pursue the stuff yourself if it does happen to you. Had I not tried myself, I don’t know if I would have got that stuff back, to be honest.”

Billings police are making headway on the issue of property crime. The Street Crime Unit, a unit used in the 90s and 2000s before being disbanded because of staffing shortages, has been revived to help combat thefts like these.

The unit has only been active since mid-January but Billings police say it is already seeing results.

The department will also resubscribe to the website Crime Mapping that will provide a map of where crimes occur in the city.

Reporting by Dustin Klemann for MTN News