Montana public records are governed by the Montana Public Records Act. Access court filings, arrest records, and jail rosters from counties across Big Sky Country.
Cascade County jury found Gary Wayne Temple, Jr. guilty of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs from incidents July 2017-Feb 2018. Four lay witnesses involved in distributing meth in Great Falls testified; Derek Lohmeyer worked as a confidential informant after his 2017 arrest, arranging a drug transaction with Danielle Wilson. Lohmeyer suffered a relapse while serving as CI and cut ties with law enforcement. Temple moved twice for mistrial; appeal affirmed. Postconviction relief denied July 2024; appeal briefed Feb 2025 (DA 24-0539).
Eighth Judicial District, Cascade County. Johnson convicted March 3, 1999 of three counts criminal sale of dangerous drugs. On June 10, 1998 sold cocaine to Kathy Hart, a reliable/experienced CI for Great Falls Police Department; subsequent buys June 12 and June 19, 1998 with wire and surveillance. Trial court sustained State's objection to Johnson's attempt to impeach the CI (income tax evasion on $60 earned). Speedy trial claim denied; affirmed.
Eighth Judicial District, Cascade County. Davison appealed denial of motion to dismiss; affirmed. October 2001 Great Falls police received info from a CI that Davison was manufacturing methamphetamine, trading meth with manager of Four Seasons Hotel; lab located near hotel; Davison arrested in vehicle. Separate charges for operating clandestine lab and manufacturing dangerous drugs.
Eighth Judicial District, Cascade County. Morse and codefendant Ray Brown charged Nov 19, 1985 with conspiracy (aggravated kidnapping) and conspiracy (deliberate homicide); jury not guilty on both but guilty of solicitation. State's informant Thomas Marchington (met Morse playing poker in Billings) wired with transmitter; Great Falls police officers, Cascade County deputy, three DOJ investigators testified. Corroborating evidence introduced; Marchington not an accomplice.
Cascade County District Court. Russell James Offerdahl charged with selling mescaline in Gibson Park, Great Falls, Aug 14, 1970. Great Falls police received info from two informers; third informer volunteered to buy under surveillance but did not tell police who handed drugs/money. Montana Supreme Court held identity of vital material witness informer must be revealed unless information amended to protect double jeopardy.
Tyler Shane O'Brien, Logan Patrick Berkner, Roger Cantrell charged with felony tampering with witnesses or informants (or intimidation) over October assault at Cascade County Adult Detention Center; max 10 years/$50,000. Victim believed assault aimed to stop him testifying, wearing a wire, or being a 'snitch' due to August case. Cantrell implicated in prior jail assaults and has pending tampering charge for directing another not to testify during recorded jail call. Cantrell in custody on multiple charges.
Cascade County Sheriff's Office had a confidential informant with concerns teen sexually assaulted by Mellinger; GFPD conducted forensic interview Feb 18 at Cascade County Child Advocacy Center. Mellinger charged with misdemeanor sexual assault for inappropriately touching 17-year-old girl. Reported by Great Falls Tribune.
Cascade County prosecutors filed additional charging documents in justice court related to drug ring investigation including Aug 2 standoff. Confidential sources and informants told task force group had been in Great Falls area off and on since Dec 2022; Milan arranges meetings; sources spoke with Milan then met Litsey/others usually at park; informants said group wore construction vests to pose as park workers.
GFPD's defacto gang expert (Brown, Directed Enforcement Team) said groups have 'culture of retaliation against people that snitch,' seen playing out on social media with potential to spill into real life. Local officials discuss training, police funding, response to calls for reform. Cascade County context.
Montana Senate committee heard bills on vacating convictions for new non-DNA evidence and reliability hearings for incentivized witnesses. Richard Burkhart (exonerated of 2001 Great Falls homicide of William LeDeau) testified he was convicted on single witness; post-conviction jailhouse informant told police another inmate confessed; info never disclosed. Cascade County prosecutors declined re-trial. Law enforcement/prosecutors opposed bills citing impact on CI investigations.
The Electric (Great Falls): Joshua Lively, 33, a Cascade County Sheriff's Office detention officer, arrested and charged with felony intimidation and misdemeanor partner/family member assault, endangering welfare of a child, and surreptitious visual observation/recording.
The Electric (Great Falls): Kenneth Jacobs, 50, charged with felony sexual abuse of children after responding to a Craigslist ad on 09/11/2026 believing he was chatting with a 15-year-old boy; arraigned 10/28/2026 before Judge John Parker.
The Electric (Great Falls): Jeremy Raskiewicz, 46, charged with deliberate homicide after Great Falls Police welfare check around 1:30 a.m. on 10/31/2026; booked into Cascade County Adult Detention Center at 10:32 a.m.
Zachary Kerbs, 39, charged with felony child prostitution and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute after responding to an undercover ad believing it was a 16-year-old girl; entered not guilty plea; bond $100,000. (The Electric, Nov 3, 2026)
Chad Boggess, 38, traveled from Helena to Great Falls to have sex with a 15-year-old girl; charged with felony sexual abuse of children; held on $100,000 bond. (The Electric, Nov 3, 2026)
Matthew Chambers, 52, traveled to Great Falls to have sex with two underage girls aged 15 and 16; charged with two felony counts of patronizing a prostitute; bond $100,000. (The Electric, Nov 3, 2026)
Bryden Martinez sought sex with a 16-year-old girl, negotiated $30, left then was stopped and arrested; admitted to prostitution arrangement; bonded out on $70,000. (The Electric, Nov 3, 2026)
Donnell Young, 35, traveled from Idaho to have sex with a 16-year-old girl; charged with felony patronizing a prostitute; registered sex offender; remains in jail on $200,000 bond. (The Electric, Nov 3, 2026)
John Lewton, a Montana resident, sentenced Oct. 20 in federal court after pleading guilty to violating the Lacey Act involving trafficking of wildlife; fined $20,000, one year probation. (The Electric, Nov 2, 2026)
Airman 1st Class Aldo Ortiz Perez killed in weekend shooting at Malmstrom AFB; man charged with negligent homicide. (The Electric, Nov 2, 2026)
Ethanel Pherigo sentenced Oct. 29 to 40 years in Montana State Prison for 2024 downtown alley assault leaving victim with severe brain injury. (The Electric, Oct 29, 2026)
Nehemias Valeriano Midence, 22, sentenced in district court to felony sexual abuse of children for video of local minor on phone. (The Electric, Oct 20, 2026)
James Dennis, 37, sentenced to 50 years with 20 suspended on seven felony charges related to June 4, 2025 car theft, police pursuit and crash. (The Electric, Oct 19, 2026)
Kylie Lynn Minardi, 24, sentenced Oct. 14 to five years two months in prison plus four years supervised release for distributing fentanyl and conspiracy. (The Electric, Oct 15, 2026)