District Court News

Brown faces three separate assault charges

A Ronan man is facing charges from three separate incidents. Michael Lee Brown Jr., 22, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson on Sept. 24 to felony assault with a weapon and two counts of misdemeanor partner or family member assault.

In a separate case, Brown pled not guilty to assault with a weapon, and in a third case, he pled not guilty to tampering with witnesses or informants.

According to court records, on June 6, 2024, law enforcement was called to a residence in Elmo on a report of a domestic disturbance. A woman at the scene indicated that she was awakened by Brown who allegedly grabbed her and dragged her down the hall by her hair.

She said he caused damage to the residence by pulling an interior door off its hinges, and broke windows to her car. The woman also claimed that she had a bump on her head where Brown allegedly hit her with a handgun.

The second case stems from an incident on July 25 of this year when law enforcement were called to a report that Brown had caused extensive damage to an apartment. This led to his arrest and a restraining order. Brown allegedly sent the alleged victim in this matter a text urging her to drop the restraining order.

Another set of charges stems from an incident on Aug. 13 when Brown allegedly hit the victim with a gun causing fluid to drain from her ear.

Judge Molly Owen set all three cases for trial on March 2. Brown remains in custody with bond totaling $100,000.

Ronan man charged with child sexual assault

A Ronan man is accused of groping a minor. Eugene John Thiel, 60, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson on Sept. 18 to sexual assault.

According to court records, on March 21, 2021, Lake County Sheriff’s Office took a report from the Child Abuse Hotline regarding a possible assault that occurred in Ronan. The alleged victim, then age 14, indicated that when she was 8 years old, her mother’s boyfriend at the time, Thiel, had sexually assaulted her on numerous occasions between November 2014 and November 2015.

In an interview with a counselor at First Step in Missoula, she alleged that Thiel had a drinking problem and would touch her inappropriately when he was drinking. She told the counselor that she was afraid to ask him to stop because she didn’t know how he would react.

Thiel was 50 years old at the time of the alleged incidents.

Judge John A. Mercer set the case for trial on Jan. 12. The defendant posted a bond of $50,000 and remains at liberty.

Man accused of choking girlfriend

A Ronan man is accused of choking his girlfriend to the point of unconsciousness. D’Shawn Trey Malatare, 21, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Sept. 24 to felony strangulation of a partner or family member.

According to charging documents, on Sept. 10, Ronan Police were alerted to a reported assault. An officer responded to the hospital in Ronan to speak with the alleged victim.

She stated that she has been in a relationship with Malatare for about a year and a half, but that morning the two argued. She said the argument got out of control and he began to hit her.

She said he punched her in the face, stomach and head and she started fighting back. That’s when Malatare allegedly put his hands around her neck with his thumbs pressing into her throat. She said she lost consciousness for about a minute.

The officer observed blood around her mouth and teeth and redness around her neck and throat area and noted that her eyes were red. The marks on her throat were consistent with hand marks.

Judge Molly Owen set the case for trial on March 2. Judge Owen rejected an own-recognizance release but did allow the bond to be lowered from $50,000 to $25,000.

Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor for the Lake County Leader.