Probation in interference case

Monday, Sept. 10, in Hot Springs District Court, Jody White was sentenced to six months unsupervised probation on a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a peace officer. White pleaded guilty to the charge, originally listed as a felony, and her sentencing immediately followed. As part of a plea agreement, the charge was amended to a misdemeanor and two addition counts of interference were dismissed.

The charges are from an alleged June 15 incident. According to court documents, an officer observed a vehicle in which White was a passenger, and White yelling profanities and making obscene gestures at him.

The officer later drove to White’s house to speak with her, and during that encounter White approached him and shoved him before turning to go back into the house. Attempts were made to arrest White, and she was eventually taken into custody. The officer and several others escorted White to the jail, and during that time she allegedly fought with them and kicked an officer in the leg. Put in the detox room, White later told a deputy she had to use the restroom. Because of her previous actions, the deputy requested an officer’s assistance.

Though White was directed to step out of the holding cell and go to the restroom, she instead attempted to strike the deputy and officer, who wrestled her to the ground. The officer further reported that White bit him.

During Monday’s proceedings, White admitted to making obscene gestures and comments to the officer. She further noted she has a long history of addiction, and recently completed treatment. In addition, she spent 33 days in jail and was under house arrest for three months.

In total, White said she has had 15 months sobriety, and feels as if God plucked her up from her path of destruction and she realizes she wants to live by God’s will. She added she loves being sober and it has helped her care for her children better.

Judge Robert Skar said he wanted there to be enough time over White’s head that she would take her probation seriously. He sentenced White to six months in the county jail with 33 days credit, suspended for the six months of probation. A $1,000 fine was also suspended on White’s promise to behave from now until the end of her probation, and Skar said White would also have to follow post-treatment instructions.

Also in District Court, Cody M. Wallace and Tracey R. Matti-Forsing were each sentenced to three to six years in prison. Both pled guilty to felony conspiracy to commit wrongful receiving, concealing or disposing of property. The charges are from a May 20 theft of a passenger van from the Mack’s Market parking lot.

According to court documents, officers were dispatched with regard to the vehicle theft. However, the owner’s cell phone was still in the vehicle and was “pinged” to determine the van was 18 miles outside Cody on Highway 120 West.

An officer located a vehicle in the lot matching the description of a truck stolen from Worland. Upon viewing security footage, officers saw subjects get out of the truck, get in the van and drive away. Officers later received word from the Park County Sheriff’s Office that the subjects were apprehended.

In a police interview, Matti-Forsting said she and Wallace stole a vehicle in Wisconsin and got as far as Worland before they ran out of money. The plan was to steal a truck in Worland, but that vehicle had only a quarter tank of gas. They talked about pulling into a business parking lot to find another vehicle. Matti-Forsting said Wallace noticed the keys were in the van and decided to take it.

With regard to the vehicle theft from Worland, the pair were also sentenced to three to six years in prison, served consecutively. However, those sentences were suspended for five years of supervised probation. What that means is each will serve their prison time, but when they get out they will be on probation for five years.

Suspects in recent drug busts pleaded not guilty to charges against them in District Court. Tyler Kihlstrom is charged with felony charges of unlawful possession of meth, possession of meth with intent to deliver and conspiracy to deliver meth, and misdemeanors of unlawful possession of marijuana and use or under the influence of a controlled substance.

The charges are from an Aug. 1 incident, during which Kihlstrom’s vehicle was stopped due to his not appearing at a scheduled probation hearing. Utilizing information provided, officers at the scene located substances that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as other paraphernalia associated with the use and sale of controlled substances.

Karl Bert David Loos is charged with felony conspiracy to deliver Oxycontin and delivery of Oxycontin. The charges are from a controlled buy in March. An informant was set up to purchase pills — later identified through the inscriptions on pills as being Oxycontin — from Loos through arrangements made with Trapper Lahoe. Following the buy, the informant informed deputies that Lahoe had driven the vehicle where the buy happened and Loos gave him the pills.

Lahoe is charged with felony conspiracy to deliver a prescription narcotic, accessory before the fact to deliver meth and delivery of meth. According to court documents, following the controlled buy with Loos, Lahoe contacted an informant and offered meth. A second controlled buy was arranged, during which the informant purchased a crystalline substance that tested presumptive positive for meth from Lahoe. Trials for the suspects are expected to take three days each, and there is the possibility some of the charges could be merged.

Aaron M. Munger pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and battery. The charges stem from a March 22 incident, during which Munger allegedly assaulted female subject. Trial for Munger is also expected to take three days.