Connect with us

Montana

Director departing Montana’s public defender office

Published

on

Director departing Montana’s public defender office


The highest official within the Montana Workplace of the State Public Defender will retire on the of the June, because the authorized battle over the company’s current delays in assigning counsel to defendants continues within the state Supreme Courtroom.

Rhonda Lindquist will retire June 30 after 4 years with the company, in line with press launch issued Tuesday. Growth and operations bureau chief Brett Schandelson will take the lead because the appearing director of OPD in the course of the seek for Lindquist’s alternative. 

“Rhonda has devoted her life to public service, and I respect all she has executed to modernize OPD, resolve challenges the workplace has confronted, and guarantee all Montanans’ constitutional proper to counsel is protected,” Division of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles mentioned within the launch. “Because the state recruits and hires a brand new OPD director, Brett will oversee the workplace’s operations.”

Individuals are additionally studying…

Advertisement

The Division of Administration, beneath which the general public defenders workplace is housed, will rent Lindquist’s alternative. Belinda Adams, spokesperson for the division, mentioned in an e mail Tuesday the transition won’t have an effect on the company’s Supreme Courtroom case, and the division will start recruiting for Lindquist’s place inside the subsequent week. 

“OPD represents people most in want of assist and gives critically wanted accountability to the justice system,” Lindquist mentioned within the launch. “I’m humbled to have been part of this wonderful company, and I’ll miss it. However after a protracted profession in public service, it’s time for me to step again, and I do know the company is in nice palms transferring ahead.”

Advertisement

Lindquist was named director of the state public defenders workplace in 2018, a place created in a package deal of reform payments handed by the state Legislature a 12 months earlier. That laws changed a fee atop the company with a director to supervise the 4 divisions inside OPD.

The shake-up adopted the work of a activity drive in 2015 meant to handle current budgetary and operational issues. Earlier than that 2017 session, the division’s chairman and chief administrator had resigned following a monetary audit that discovered the company was $3.5 million over funds. In current months, Lindquist helped safe larger pay for public defenders and contract attorneys.

Whereas OPD’s turbulence largely continued, the 2021 Legislature was the primary time in 15 years the company got here to the session with out having to ask for supplemental funding, usually executed when an company overspends its funds set by lawmakers two years earlier. Nevertheless, by the top of the 2021 session, OPD returned to the legislative funds committee asking for a further $850,000 to assist squash the rising caseload pileup largely bottlenecked by the COVID-19 pandemic’s slowdown within the court docket system. Lawmakers declined the funding request. 

Whereas the company reported being hamstrung with its current funds, a Yellowstone County District Courtroom choose held the company and Lindquist in contempt in September after studying greater than 650 defendants had not been assigned public protection. The company paid $15,500 in fines imposed by the court docket, however later failed to fulfill Decide Donald Harris’ order to assign attorneys to indigent defendants inside three days, and in November the choose held Lindquist and the company in contempt once more. 

The company challenged Harris’ second contempt order in court docket, arguing the choose can not sanction an underfunded company into compliance. Harris has stood by his order within the case earlier than the Supreme Courtroom, which stays ongoing.

Advertisement

The company lastly moved the needle on its wages for attorneys after a gaggle of contract attorneys introduced in April they’d now not take instances on behalf of OPD because of a better pay fee afforded to contract attorneys in Yellowstone County, the place the company’s wants are highest. In late April, OPD introduced contract attorneys would obtain a statewide bump from $56 per hour to $71 per hour. The following day, OPD and the general public defenders’ union agreed to an $11,000 pay hike for brand new workers, maybe the most important funding within the company’s historical past.

“Making prudent, accountable investments in public protection is an funding in our justice system and in making certain our constitutionally assured rights are upheld,” Lindquist mentioned on the time.

Previous to her being named director at OPD, Lindquist, a Helena native, was the centralized companies administrator for the Governor’s Workplace within the Bullock administration, the place she was concerned in coverage, communications, monetary administration and strategic planning.

Schandelson, who will start serving as OPD’s appearing director on July 1, spent a decade in litigation follow earlier than becoming a member of the company in 2018. He graduated from the College of Montana College of Regulation in 2008.

“OPD is in an awesome spot, with a stable construction and basis,” mentioned Schandelson. “We’ve bought extra work to do, however we’ve bought a plan, an awesome crew, and probably the most compassionate, hardest-working workers and contractors within the state.”

Advertisement

-This text might be up to date.






Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Montana

South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana

Published

on

South Florida truck driver convicted of trying to coerce minor for sex in Montana


MISSOULA, Mont. – A federal jury convicted a South Florida truck driver Wednesday of trying to coerce a minor for sex while passing through Montana in 2023.

Stevenson Metelus, 36, of Margate, now faces 10 years to life in prison after being found guilty of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor after a three-day trial in Missoula, Montana federal court.

According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, an undercover FBI special agent posed as a girl on prostitution site MegaPersonals, posting an advertisement for prostitution services in Missoula.

They said Metelus responded to the ad on Nov. 16, 2023 and negotiated a price and sex acts to engage in with her, despite believing that she was a minor.

Advertisement

Authorities said Metelus asked the girl to meet him in his truck, but the agent posing as the girl said she had a room at a hotel and would leave the door open for him, then offered to meet him at a nearby gas station “when he expressed concern about the plan.”

“The undercover FBI agent had confidential source call Metelus and, acting as (the girl), spoke briefly with him,” the DOJ news release states “The confidential source again told Metelus that she was a minor. The parties then confirmed their plans to meet. Shortly thereafter, Metelus texted (the girl) that he had arrived at the gas station, where law enforcement arrested him.”

Authorities said Metelus later admitted he intended to meet the girl for commercial sex.

Aside from a long prison term, Metelus faces the possibility of a $250,000 fine and at least five years to a lifetime of supervised release, according to the DOJ.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Feb. 12, 2025

Published

on


The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Feb. 12, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 12 drawing

21-32-36-45-49, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 12 drawing

08-29-34-36-42, Lucky Ball: 11

Advertisement

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Feb. 12 drawing

06-16-23-27-30, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 12 drawing

06-07-11-30, Bonus: 05

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Feb. 12 drawing

02-14-31-33-37

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
  • Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

Advertisement

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for Feb. 11, 2025

Published

on


The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Feb. 11, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 11 drawing

07-30-39-41-70, Mega Ball: 13, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 11 drawing

08-25-28-41-46, Lucky Ball: 05

Advertisement

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 11 drawing

17-22-26-31, Bonus: 06

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
  • Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Advertisement

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending