Defendants Appear For District Court Hearings
District Judge Benjamin Fosland presided over a series of cases during hearings held in district court on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
After admitting to violating conditions of his suspended sentence during a hearing on Jan. 28, a disposition was conducted for John David Panasuk on Wednesday. Probation and parole officer Bruce Barstad recommended that Panasuk should at least be under supervision.
Linda Panasuk, the defendant’s mother, testified about Panasuk’s criminal history. When defense attorney Phillip J. DeFelice asked the mother what would help, the mother says the defendant needs mental help and addiction recovery. She said the defendant when he was young had a hard time in school with bad behavior and attention disorder. She told him he’s now not allowed to go home anymore because he has a history of bad choices. She wants him to receive treatment in North Dakota.
“As long as there’s life, there’s hope,” she said. “This is the last go round though. I’m over it.”
During his closing arguments, county attorney Thomas Bleicher urged Fosland to send a message that there’s consequences when you continue to make bad choices.
DeFelice asked to keep the current sentences and have his client attend treatment in Dickinson, N.D.
Fosland decided to re-impose the sentence of 20 years with 15 years suspended minus time served. Panasuk must complete an in-patient treatment program at Prairie Recovery Center in North Dakota. If Panasuk doesn’t complete the program in six months, the judge could deliver a harsher punishment.
“This is the last go around we will do here,” Fosland said.
In other hearing on Feb. 12:
• Ethan Gregory Pirkle made not guilty pleas to the felony charge of strangulation of a partner or family member, and the misdemeanor alternate charges of partner or family member assault. An omnibus hearing was scheduled for March 12.
• Jesse Hank Baker III, via video conferencing from the Yellowstone County Detention Center, admitted to violating the conditions of his probation. A dispositional hearing is scheduled for Feb. 25.
• Victoria Renee Clark waived extradition based on an arrest warrant from Utah.
• Kristy Daugherty had a hearing regarding a probation violation for not reporting with parole and probation officers for several years. Probation and parole officer Bruce Barstad testified that there wasn’t contact to the office with her starting in 2020. Defense attorney Mark Epperson argued that Barstad didn’t handle Daugherty first-hand and that Daugherty worked openly in Billings for years without any problems. Epperson said that the probation and parole office perhaps dropped the ball in the case.
Judge Fosland noted that Daugherty still had an obligation to contact the probation officials. He ruled that she was in violation of a probation violation. A dispositional hearing was set for Feb. 25.
• Whitley Raquel Arredondo Adams was scheduled to have her sentencing hearing for a possession of illegal drugs charge. She, however, requested a different attorney in the case.
