Several appear in court Monday

Monday in Hot Springs District Court, Samantha Messick was sentenced to three years of supervised probation. Messick who was arrested June 30 for her involvement in a high-speed chase on a stolen motorcycle, pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to wrongful receiving, concealing or disposing of property and interference with a peace officer. A third charge of possession of a controlled substance was dismissed.

Messick was sentenced to 2.5 to four years in prison on the conspiracy charge, though that sentence was suspended for three years of supervised probation. A $3,000 fine for the charge was also suspended.

As for the interference charge, it resulted in a 180-day jail sentence, which was suspended for eight months probation, served concurrently. However, a $500 fine was not.

During proceedings, Messick said she believes she can and will complete the probation.

Also in court, Lola Vialpando entered a plea of not guilty to 10 counts of forgery and three counts of theft over $1,000. The charges allege Vialpando stole from her employer of several years, using the money for personal purchases. Vialpando’s trial is expected to take four days; a date has not been set.

Lane Gunkel changed his plea to guilty on a charge of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor. The charge was amended from a second-degree abuse charge, and additional counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and third degree sexual abuse of a minor were dismissed.

The charges stem from a Feb. 9 incident, though during testimony taken Monday it was indicated there was consensual contact between Gunkel and the alleged victim.

Cory A. Ireland pleaded not guilty to fourth-offense driving under the influence. The charge is from a Sept. 1 incident, though records show Ireland had previous convictions on Dec. 28, 2006, June 29, 2007, and Sept. 17, 2007.

Ireland was arrested following a one-vehicle rollover accident near mile marker 20 on Highway 120. He stated that he swerved to miss an antelope, though the responding trooper detected an odor of alcoholic beverage on him. Ireland refused a blood test, but the trooper applied for and was granted a warrant for a blood draw. The result of that draw, read in court, was .33 A two-day trial is expected, though no date was set.

Wade Grieve agreed to plead guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance — one felony and one misdemeanor — and a count of forgery. The charges are from two separate but related cases. During proceedings Monday, Grieve said around Nov. 16, 2015 he had modified a notice to quit, whiting out the name on it and putting another name. He further added he did not have the money to pay for the notice.

Grieve also noted his home was searched and methamphetamine was found. He admitted the drug was his.

When sentenced, Grieve is looking at one year at the Hot Springs County Detention Center for the possession charges, and 18-36 months for the forgery. Those sentences would be served concurrently, but the sentence could be modified if Grieve seeks out, and is successful with, inpatient treatment programs.