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20th Judicial District Court News

BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 7 months AGO
by BERL TISKUS
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. Contact her at [email protected] or 406-883-4343. | August 31, 2023 12:00 AM

Bockman fails to show for court date

Elliott Wayne Bockman was scheduled to appear in Judge Molly Owen’s court on Aug. 23 for sentencing. He did not appear for his court date.

Bockman’s case began on Nov. 23, 2017, when dispatch received a call that a pickup had been stolen, and the thief was headed towards Pablo. Officers put out an attempt-to-locate on police radios, and a tribal officer spotted the pickup in front of a house in Pablo. Bockman was sitting in the driver’s seat and was placed under arrest. As he was searched, officers found a Clonazepam pill under his leg.

Bockman was charged with felony theft. After changing attorneys several times and not showing up for court dates, on Nov. 15, 2018, Bockman was held on $25,000 bail and told to appear in District Court the Wednesday after his release from jail. He did not appear, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested on April 14, 2023.

Allen receives suspended sentence for magic mushrooms

Clayton John Edward Allen was sentenced in Judge Molly Owen’s court to the Department of Corrections or one year with one year suspended. The sentence would run consecutively to the sentence for which Allen is currently on probation.

Allen’s case began on Jan. 6, 2023, when he had just been the subject of a probation search. During the probation check, officers found dried mushrooms which commonly contain psilocybin, a schedule 1 dangerous drug, in his possession. Allen acknowledged that the specimens were psychedelic mushrooms used for getting high.

A friend had bought the mushrooms out-of-state and brought them to his home and left them, he said. The mushrooms were sent to the Montana State Crime Lab but results of the testing are not yet available.

In a plea agreement, the defendant agreed to plead guilty to one count of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS

Brown Elephant in Ronan buys, sells, trades and offers loans
April 16, 2026 midnight

Brown Elephant in Ronan buys, sells, trades and offers loans

The Brown Elephant Pawn Shop opened in early April on Round Butte Road in Ronan.

Tour and meeting focus on Ronan revitalization efforts
April 16, 2026 midnight

Tour and meeting focus on Ronan revitalization efforts

Micky Zurcher, program specialist for community and economic vitality programs for the Montana Department of Commerce, was in Ronan April 1 to meet with members of the Ronan Revitalization Committee and others engaged in efforts to revitalize Main Street.

April 16, 2026 midnight

Council acknowledges Main Street program change

The Ronan City Council meeting on April 8 was short and sweet. The council approved a motion to authorize Mayor Ryan Corum to sign a document acknowledging the change from Ronan Revitalization Committee as the Montana Main Street coordinator to Mission West Community Development Partners.