The sentencing hearing for a Polson man, accused of murdering a man on Christmas morning 2024, has been delayed and reset for late August.

Elijah Cajune, 19, entered a guilty plea in Polson District Court May 20 to the amended charge of mitigated deliberate homicide. Cajune, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was initially charged with deliberate homicide.

He pled guilty to the amended charge as part of an agreement that calls for a joint recommendation of 40 years in the Montana State Prison with none of that time suspended. There’s an additional 10 years, all suspended, for use of a dangerous weapon and a joint recommendation for no parole restriction, meaning Cajune could be eligible for parole after serving 10 years in prison.

The judge is not bound by the agreement.

The incident occurred on Polson’s west side the morning of Dec. 25, 2024, and left Sheldon Fisher dead of a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Cajune’s attorney, Levi Roadman, requested a Gallagher hearing — which is a closed court hearing to determine if the case should proceed with current counsel — last Wednesday, July 15, at the onset of what was supposed to be the sentencing hearing. Judge Molly Owen allowed for the hearing and made the decision to rescind Roadman and have the Office of Public Defender appoint new counsel to Cajune.

Owen set a new sentencing date of Aug. 26. Cajune remains at liberty.