Judge agrees to postpone trial for man accused of murder
JEFF SMITH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 2 weeks AGO
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader. | January 28, 2026 11:00 PM
The trial of Cameron Francis, 50, accused of deliberate homicide, was vacated and continued without a trial date during a pre-trial hearing in District Court in Polson Jan. 22.
The continuance was requested by Francis’s attorney, Joan Burbridge, who indicated that she is still retaining experts and trying to determine Francis’s medical status. Judge John A. Mercer granted the request and vacated the trial that was set for July 21. A future trial date will be determined later.
Francis entered a plea of not guilty to deliberate homicide and attempted deliberate homicide on March 6, 2025.
According to charging documents, the charges stem from an incident late the night of Feb. 14, 2025. Francis allegedly fired approximately 20 rounds from an assault rifle at a Polson Police officer’s patrol car during a traffic stop and then fled. The rounds showered the officer with broken glass.
Francis was apprehended within an hour in the Elmo area.
A request for a welfare check on Francis’s girlfriend the following Sunday led police to discover her dead body at her home in Polson. Lake County Attorney, James Lapokta, explained in charging documents that Kimberly Goodson, 48, died from a single gunshot to the face.
Shell casings at both scenes matched an assault rifle found in the Honda Accord that Francis was driving when he shot at the officer. Records show Francis has a lengthy criminal history in the state of California.
He remains in custody without bond.
ARTICLES BY JEFF SMITH
Mission man sentenced to 100 years for sexual abuse of children
Christopher Michael Sands, 47, was sentenced to the Montana Department of Corrections for 100 years with 75 years suspended on each of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of sexual abuse of children, to run concurrently to each other.
Kalispell man accused of attempting to strangle driver
A 20-year-old Kalispell man is accused of attempting to choke the driver of a vehicle, endangering the lives of the occupants.
Polson woman accused of assaulting children
Katherine Nicole Harner, 36, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court on Oct. 22 to felony charges of strangulation of a partner or family member and criminal endangerment.