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.
Former longtime Montana Probation and Parole officer Kyle Curtis Hinzman charged in Flathead County District Court with solicitation to commit distribution of dangerous drugs and official misconduct, plus later sexual abuse of children and tampering with a witness or informant. Affidavit states he directed former probationer Jane Doe to supply fentanyl to probationer Michael Odom in a September 2024 reverse sting to entrap him, describing Doe as his confidential informant; state does not typically permit probation officers to use confidential informants. (Flathead Beacon, Jun/Oct 2026)
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.
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.
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.
Fresnoland reported on Alberto, a Fresno resident who provided information to law enforcement and applied for an S-Visa ('snitch visa'), but was arrested by ICE during a green card interview in October 2025 and again at a follow-up appointment, spending months in detention before release on bond.
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)