Three separate criminal matters are set for trial in July. Two involve alleged burglaries and a third involves an alleged domestic disturbance. All three suspects appeared before Judge Molly Owen in District Court in Polson on Jan. 14.

Damien Darius Burrafato, 25, entered a plea of not guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The Dixon man is accused of breaking into a house in Charlo and injuring a dog.

According to court records, on Dec. 30, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of a burglary in Charlo. A man reported that someone broke into his residence and stole a gun, a Play Station, a Roku set and a rifle.

A neighbor provided law enforcement with the description of a possible suspect wearing a camo-colored coat, who had come to their house looking for a ride.

The initial reporting party indicated he saw a small blue car pick up a male in the area of his residence. He was able to get a license plate number and shared it with law enforcement, who located the vehicle and stopped it.

Burrafato was in the rear passenger seat. A search of the vehicle turned up some of the stolen items. Other items that were taken were found stashed by a nearby canal.

When law enforcement officers went back to the owner of the stolen items, he indicated that a dog was injured during the burglary, and suffered injuries consistent with being kicked in the head and ear.

Jacob Lee Wilson, 47, of St. Ignatius, entered a plea of not guilty to felony burglary.

According to the charging documents, on Dec. 23, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of a residential burglary in St. Ignatius. Wilson allegedly went to the wrong house, and then left when he realized his mistake. The homeowner dead bolted the front door and that’s when Wilson began yelling and banging on windows.

He allegedly broke a door jamb to re-enter the residence and knocked the homeowner down, then threatened to “stomp” her if she got up. A neighbor showed up and physically removed Wilson.

Law enforcement located him on the front porch. Prosecutor Ben Anciaux with the Lake County Attorney’s Office indicated that there may be a mental-health component to this case.

Bigfork resident Christopher John Kennedy, 58, is accused of assaulting his teenage son. He entered a plea of not guilty to felony strangulation of a partner or family member.

According to charging documents, on Dec. 18, 2025, law enforcement officers were called to the hospital in Polson on a report of a strangulation. The officers spoke to a 16-year-old boy, identified only their initials, W.K..

He indicated that he was at his home in Bigfork when his dad, Christopher Kennedy, began arguing with him, grabbed him by his neck and began choking him with both hands. He said Kennedy dug his fingers into his throat, then slammed him into a car window and wall.

The son said he couldn’t breathe and saw stars. The officers noted red marks and scratches on his neck. Hospital staff diagnosed him with a mild concussion.

Judge Owen set all three matters for trial on July 20. Burrafato was released on his own recognizance with the condition he also wear an alcohol monitoring device. Wilson remains in custody with bond set at $20,000. Kennedy is at liberty.

    Jacob Wilson
  

    Damien Burrafato