Two local court cases involving state psychiatric evaluations, the genesis of which happened months apart, are approaching Lincoln County Courthouse on the same day.

The hearings to determine whether James Louis Bonifas, 75, and Gloria Lee Williams Sprinkle, 53, are mentally fit to take the stand were postponed until July 9. 

Bonifas is on trial for the murder of his daughter, Suzanne Cambell, 41, on Jan. 6. Sprinkle is charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of criminal endangerment after a lengthy standoff on March 26-27.

The Lincoln County courthouse received a psychological evaluation for Bonifas from the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs on June 15, and neither Bonifas’ attorney nor the prosecution had enough time to review it and prepare the case accordingly, necessitating the continuation in July.

Sprinkle, who pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in April, had her omnibus hearing on June 11 cancelled and her initial status hearing on June 14 vacated as she also was transported to Warm Springs on June 11, where the State Hospital has 60 days to submit a psychiatric evaluation.

   The court will reconvene July 9 at 9:30 a.m. to ultimately decide whether Bonifas and Sprinkle are mentally fit to testify.

   Bernard Cassidy, County Attorney, does not have high hopes for the State Hospital meeting that deadline.

   “There is a good chance, in my experience, that it (the evaluation) won’t be ready by July 9,” Cassidy said. “In that case, we’ll be scheduling a status hearing two to three weeks or a month out.”

   Sprinkle’s pre-trial date already has been set for July 23, but that may well be pushed back, too.

   In Bonifas’ case, Deputy County Attorney Robert Slomski said the court will likely rule with the psychiatric evaluation.

   “I anticipate that the court will say he’s unfit to proceed,” Slomski said. “If that’s the case, he’ll have to do a civil commitment.”

   At approximately 9 a.m. Jan. 6, Bonifas called Troy Area Dispatch to report his daughter, Campbell, had passed away during the night.

   Troy Volunteer Ambulance was dispatched to the residence, 3377 Old Highway 2 in Troy, where the ambulance attendants quickly notified Lincoln County Officials the decedent had a gunshot wound in the head.

   Detectives realized the unattended death might now be a possible suicide. They were led to a bedroom where an adult female was seated on a bed, seemingly unresponsive. Ambulance attendants began hooking the female to medical equipment. Bonifas entered the room and told them to stop because the female had been shot in the head.

   The gun had been secured in a desk in another room.

   Officials asked Bonifas what happened, and he told them he and his daughter had been discussing who should be cashing his checks. According to court records, detectives asked Bonifas whether his daughter had committed suicide. 

   “No, I shot her,” Bonifas said.

   Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene, and Bonifas has been charged with deliberate homicide. He faces a fine for as much as $50,000 and could face a life sentence in prison, if found fit to stand trial, which now seems unlikely.

   In the Sprinkle case, she had been drinking in her home with her husband Charles when some words were exchanged, and she allegedly assaulted him. She first came at him with two pearl-handled knives, but he was able to disarm her. She then fired a rifle in the vicinity, prompting him to flee their residence.

   She then held police, including a heavily armed tactical team, in a standoff for 19 hours before she was talked out of taking any other actions and into custody.

   Her public defender, Noel Larrivee, explained at Sprinkle’s arraignment in April that Sprinkle understood the charges against her.

   “She’s currently taking her medication,” Larrivee said. “We’re assessing our defense.”

   If found guilty, Sprinkle faces a maximum 20 years and $50,000 fine for each count of assault, and 10 years and $50,000 for the criminal endangerment charge.

   Bonifas was arraigned in early February, where the defense attorneys were given 45 days to provide a mental-health evaluation to the courts.

   The evaluation, solicited by defense attorney Sean Hinchey, came from Dr. William Stratford, in Missoula. Stratford’s initial report was that Bonifas was not fit to take the stand.

   Bonifas then spent nearly three months at the Montana State Hospital, where the most recent mental-health evaluation was given.

   At the time of print, that evaluation still was classified information, but according to Slomski, while he couldn’t reveal details, he could give the overall.

   “Since (Stratford’s initial evaluation) we had a stipulation that we could quote the bottom line,” Slomski said. “The bottom line is that he’s unfit.”

   The July 9 hearing will determine mental fitness and whether Bonifas will be in criminal or civil commitment.  It will also determine whether Sprinkle’s case will go to trial.