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).
Jailhouse informant case arising at Great Falls Regional Prison. Inmate Robert Gardner (serving 50 years for deliberate homicide) contacted Great Falls detectives after cellmate Old-Horn disclosed he had acted as a confidential informant and held info on the unsolved murder of Harold Mitchell, Jr. Old-Horn offered information through Gardner hoping Gardner would receive a sentence reduction. District Court suppressed Old-Horn's statements as involuntary (belief of immunity); Montana Supreme Court affirmed new trial and suppression.
Methamphetamine conspiracy convictions in Great Falls. Police orchestrated controlled purchases using paid informant Connie Riggs (met Larson through drug interaction) and confidential informant Jason Gilstrap (two buys from Laverdure), plus an unnamed CI who bought from Joy Lynn Poitra and Rick Lee Lamere. Poitra and Lamere agreed to testify against Larson and Laverdure in exchange for reduced charges. Ninth Circuit addressed cross-examination of cooperating coconspirators about sentences.
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.
Whitecotton appealed conviction for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. MNIB Agent Ken Poteet working unrelated case in Great Falls when CI John Maddox offered introduction to a drug seller. On April 17, 1996 Maddox wore a recording device ('wire') on drive to Whitecotton's residence. Conviction affirmed; sentencing challenge addressed.
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.
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.
Great Falls federal case. Aaron Ramirez Espinoza charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine/fentanyl. CI Gregory St. Pierre, a paid FBI confidential human source hoping to avoid federal indictment, testified Espinoza transported drugs/cash. St. Pierre was using meth while paid informant. Espinoza arrested in Great Falls with meth and fentanyl pills; sentenced Dec 8, 2022 to 128 months. Ninth Circuit affirmed; cert petition filed.
Great Falls man sentenced to 43 months federal prison plus 3 years supervised release after guilty plea Dec 2025 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Between 2021 and Mar 2025 officers investigated group distributing meth in/around Great Falls; three controlled purchases from Williams utilizing a confidential informant; drugs confirmed meth at DEA lab. Williams admitted selling meth 2021-late June 2024. Russell Country Drug Task Force and DEA investigated; AUSAs Zeno Baucus and Jeff Starnes prosecuted.
Great Falls man pleaded guilty June 13, 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (superseding information); mandatory minimum 10 years, $10M fine, 5 years supervised release; sentencing Nov 9, detained. Fall 2022 Russell Country Drug Task Force learned St. Onge distributing in Great Falls; undercover agents and confidential informants made controlled buys of meth and fentanyl pills in January; search warrant February recovered fentanyl pills and meth. AUSA Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted.
Burkhart convicted of 2001 homicide of William LeDeau in Great Falls based on single witness; conviction overturned after Montana Innocence Project found post-conviction jailhouse informant told police another inmate confessed to killing LeDeau with motive, info never disclosed to defense. Another testifying witness later said he lied. Cascade County prosecutors declined to re-try (Jan). Burkhart had 2006 prison riot conviction and 2010 attempted deliberate homicide charge. Legislative hearing Jan 29, 2019 on wrongful conviction bills.
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.
Great Falls federal court. Nunn, 41, resident of Great Falls, sentenced to 12 months prison + 3 years supervised release for distribution of heroin. Oct 2009 Nunn and wife Margaret met 'John Doe'; Jan 2010 John Doe provided heroin to Margaret for distribution in Great Falls. DEA/GFPD/Central Montana HIDTA task force made controlled purchases; on March 17, 2010 an informant called Margaret about purchasing heroin and bought two bindles from Nunn at residence. Margaret Nunn pled guilty and sentenced.
Great Falls woman jailed on five counts felony distribution of dangerous drugs. Russell Country Drug Task Force recorded sales to undercover officers and confidential informants. Police obtained search warrants Jan/Feb to electronically monitor drug transactions. First three occasions Bryant sold meth to a CI and two undercover officers; final occasion sold meth and heroin to undercover officer. Arrested on $25,000 warrant. Reported by Traci Rosenbaum.
Brian Dean Ward, Terrence Kenneth Holloway, Leonard James Hilton, Brandon Anthony Peressini arrested on drug charges in Great Falls/Fairfield. Peressini alleged to have sold heroin to a confidential informant earlier in month; provided info on Ward/Holloway. Hilton charged two felony counts drug distribution; Ward/Holloway held on $75,000 bond with heroin/meth seized. Reported by Traci Rosenbaum.
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.
Kemp, 32, of Fridley, Minn., found guilty by jury Sept 11 of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Investigation initiated Jan 11, 2021 in Havre; based on info from confidential source and review of public social media, law enforcement identified Kemp and Chantel Azure distributing fentanyl; confidential source conducted controlled buy Jan 13, 2021. Tried in Great Falls federal court.
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.
Patrick Henderson and Anthony Beavers charged in early-November citywide burglary spree. A confidential informant came forward to identify Henderson as involved in Columbus Center ATM burglary. Woman known to law enforcement admitted purchasing stolen items; prior booking photo and facial tattoos used for identification.
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): 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.