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)
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Allan Roy Goodman sentenced to 195 months federal prison for drug distribution, retaliating against a witness, firearm offenses. Confidential informants told authorities Goodman became heroin/meth supplier in Missoula taking over from son Stephen. Goodman indicted for assaulting another inmate he believed to be an informant at Crossroads Correctional Center near Shelby. (Cross-jurisdictional; reported in Great Falls Tribune.)
Donald DuBray appealed homicide conviction; in 1997 Detective Cameron received info from a CI that DuBray committed homicide while in prison for rape. DuBray sought jury instruction on informant testimony (money/escape punishment/personal advantage) and disclosure of CI identity; district court refused; Montana Supreme Court found cautionary instruction given and no disclosure required since CI did not testify. Cites State v. Grimes (1999 MT 145) on jailhouse informants. (Statewide; informant principles applied in Montana courts.)
California Court of Appeal case (1988) involving a Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy search warrant based on a confidential informant who alleged defendants were dealing methamphetamine. Defendants moved to compel disclosure of the informant's identity and criminal history records.
Ninth Circuit case: Gloria Barajas was convicted in 1998 in Fresno County Superior Court of heroin charges based solely on testimony of longtime confidential informant Maria Arellano. Federal court granted habeas relief because the state refused to disclose the informant's addresses, violating the Confrontation Clause.
Federal court order granting sanctions against the Government for untimely and/or undisclosed Giglio information in a D. Montana criminal case, including audio recordings of interviews with cooperating, informant, and confidential sources; trial continued to allow disclosure. Judge Brian Morris, Sept. 18, 2026.