Lake County Leader / Anderson Broadcasting
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader.
ARTICLES BY JEFF SMITH
Polson woman pleads guilty to negligent homicide
A Polson woman admitted to causing a vehicle accident that killed a passenger in July 2025. Elizabeth Charlotte Hill, 23, entered a plea of guilty in District Court in Polson Feb. 18 to the amended charge of negligent homicide.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 6 HOURS, 44 MINUTES AGO
Polson man who shot at officers sentenced to 20 years in prison
A Polson man who shot towards law enforcement officers during an armed standoff in 2024 was sentenced in District Court in Polson Feb. 19 to 20 years in the Montana State Prison with none of that time suspended.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
Caye sentenced to eight years for firearms, evidence tampering
A Lake County man was sentenced to prison for eight years for unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Gaige Alexander Caye, 23, was also sentenced to eight years in the Montana State Prison on one count of tampering with, or fabricating, physical evidence, which will run concurrently …
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO
Polson woman pleads guilty to negligent homicide
A Polson woman admitted to causing a vehicle accident that killed a passenger in July 2025. Elizabeth Charlotte Hill, 23, entered a plea of guilty in District Court in Polson Feb. 18 to the amended charge of negligent homicide.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO
Riebe sentenced to 20 years for armed standoff
A Polson man who shot towards law enforcement officers during an armed standoff in 2024 was sentenced in District Court in Polson Feb. 19 to 20 years in the Montana State Prison with none of that time suspended.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO
Dayton man accused of strangling girlfriend, criminal mischief
A Dayton man is accused of choking his girlfriend, and in a separate matter, damaging a gate. Orli Christensen Bitsinni, 26, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Feb. 19 to felony strangulation of a partner or family member.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO
Polson man sentenced to 75 years for murdering his mother
A Polson man accused of murdering his mother was sentenced in District Court in Polson Feb. 13 to a total of 75 years in the Montana State Prison.
DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 1 DAY AGO
Attempted mailbox heist lands Polson man in jail
A Polson man is accused of tearing a mail cluster box off its foundation. Brent Michael Lemler, 36, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Feb. 12 to felony criminal mischief.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO
Great Falls man sentenced to 10 years for vehicle assault
A Great Falls man who admitted to using a vehicle as a weapon during a high-speed pursuit with law enforcement was sentenced in District Court in Polson Feb. 11 to 10 years in the Montana State Prison with none of that time suspended.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO
Ronan woman admits to stealing from family trust
Ronan resident Lindsay Montgomery Polchies, 38, admitted to stealing funds from a family trust account as part of a plea agreement.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO
Vaska sentenced to 75 years for murdering his mother
A Polson man accused of murdering his mother was sentenced in District Court in Polson Feb. 13 to a total of 75 years in the Montana State Prison.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO
Woman accused of writing bad checks, drug possession
A Ronan woman is accused of intentionally writing bad checks and conspiring with others to get them cashed. Matilda Maxine Pablo, 27, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Feb. 4 to felony issuing a bad check.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO
Spokane man accused of stabbing in Arlee
A man from Spokane, Wash., with ties to Lake County is accused of an unprovoked stabbing in Arlee. Chauncy Franklin Whitwright, 46, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson on Jan. 29 to felony assault with a weapon.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO
Judge agrees to postpone trial for man accused of murder
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.
LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO
