Defendants Make Not Guilty Pleas
Several defendants delivered not guilty pleas during their initial appearances in district court before district judge David Cybulski on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
In two separate hearings, Amaris Mariscal-Walking Eagle made not guilty pleas to the counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Maximum penalties for the criminal possession of dangerous drugs felony charges are five years in jail, a $5,000 fine or both. For the misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charges, maximum penalties are six months in the county jail, a $500 fine or both.
An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Jan. 12. A trial date was set for Feb. 17.
Defense attorney Christopher White requested that her bond be reduced from $50,000 to $5,000. He said that Mariscal-Walking Eagle has resided in Montana for several years and her husband and child live in Poplar. Roosevelt County Attorney Frank Piocos argued that she has a pretty lengthy criminal history and is a flight risk.
Cybulski set the bond at $50,000 concurrently for both charges.
Jason Daniel Daugherty made not guilty pleas for the charges of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture.
Maximum penalties for the drug charge are five years in prison, a $5,000 fine or both. Maximum penalties for the property charge are 10 years in prison, a $5,000 fine or both.
An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Jan. 12. A trial date was set for March 17.
Jessica Lee Smith made not guilty pleas for the charges of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony, and criminal distribution of dangerous drugs by accountability, a felony.
Maximum penalties for the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs charge is 25 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. Maximum penalties for the accountability charge are 25 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both.
An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Jan. 12. A trial date was set for March 17,.
Piocos sought to have Weldon Drew’s bond revoked. Piocos claimed that Drew failed two drug patch tests and hasn’t met his obligations of calling the sheriff’s office on a weekly basis.
Drew denied the allegations. A revocation hearing was scheduled for Jan. 12.
