A Missoula man admitted to his role in stealing money from the safe of a Ronan tavern where he worked. Adrian Paul Dodson, 24, pleaded guilty at District Court in Polson on Dec. 17 to misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal trespass. He was initially facing felony charges of theft and burglary, but the charges were reduced as part of a plea agreement.
According to court records, on Oct. 7, 2019, a Ronan police officer found a money bag that belonged to the Club Bar in Ronan. Owners of the bar, Vicki and Richard Wheeler, confirmed that the bag was theirs and that it had been stolen from their safe. Video surveillance, at the bar, showed Dodson enter the bar after hours, go to where the key is kept, then go to the safe and leave.
A Missoula woman is accused of trafficking heroin in the Mission Valley. Jeri Francis Matt, 22, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court at Polson on Dec. 17 to felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute.
According to court records, on June 16, 2019, a Ronan police officer observed a car parked in front of “a known drug house,” and the driver was later identified as Matt. The house was the subject of a drug raid two days prior, and after the raid, some of the inhabitants of the home were charged with drug crimes and possession of heroin.
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A Polson man is accused of stealing two vehicles in the Polson area. Matthew Logan Semsak, 32, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on Dec. 9 to felony counts of theft and burglary.
Semsak already had a trial date set for May 3 on one count of felony theft stemming from a separate vehicle theft in August of 2019.
According to court records, on Aug. 12, 2019, a Polson couple reported the theft of their 2002 Honda CRV. Polson police issued an “attempt to locate” on the vehicle to area law enforcement. Police in Kalispell located the vehicle later that day with Semsak behind the wheel. He was arrested.
A St. Ignatius woman driving while under the influence of alcohol is charged with causing a fatal car wreck. Darlene Lesage, 67, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on Dec. 10 to vehicular homicide while under the influence.
According to court records, on Sept. 11, Lesage was northbound on U. S. Highway 93 when the black Mazda she was driving crossed the center line and into the path of oncoming traffic, which caused a collision with a southbound vehicle.
A passenger in the southbound vehicle suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in Missoula. The passenger was airlifted to a hospital in Seattle but later died of her injuries on Oct. 2. Lesage was also transported to the hospital after the incident.