Information: Federal Court Arraignments

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls, on December 24, 2015 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

• SIOUX SUMMER NECKLACE, a 25-year-old resident of Poplar, appeared on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, NECKLACE faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  PACER Case Reference.  15-88

• EVERETT TODD WHITE, a 47-year-old resident of Poplar, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, and distribution of marijuana.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, WHITE faces 10 years in prison, $500,000 in fines and 4 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  PACER Case Reference.  15-89

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Ostby in Billings, on December 23, 2015 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

• SARA MARIE CLARK, a 38-year-old resident of Laurel, appeared on charges of bank embezzlement.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, CLARK faces 30 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.  PACER Case Reference.  15-141

• MATTHEW LEE DUSTIN, a 35-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, DUSTIN faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  PACER Case Reference.  15-55

• ARTHUR CHARLES KESTNER, a 36-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, KESTNER faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the FBI Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  PACER Case Reference.  15-144

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Lynch in Missoula, on December 22, 2015 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

• COURTNEY A. COLLIER, a 33-year-old resident of Renton, Washington, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, conspiracy to acquire or obtain possession of a controlled substance by deception and acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by deception.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, COLLIER faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  PACER Case Reference.  15-21

• RYAN DAVID HIPPENSTIEL, a 36-year-old resident of Hayden Lake, Idaho, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of a firearm.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, HIPPENSTIEL faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force.  PACER Case Reference.  15-36

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Ostby in Billings, on December 18, 2015 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

• JON LEE FIGHTER, a 30-year-old resident of Pryor, appeared on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and felony child abuse and neglect.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, FIGHTER faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  PACER Case Reference.  15-75

• KODY GORDON WINFREY, a 42-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, WINFREY faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the FBI Task Force.  PACER Case Reference.  15-104

• MICHAEL SHAWN YATES, a 41-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, YATES faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the FBI Drug Task Force.  PACER Case Reference.  15-65

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system so that you stay current and not miss any important developments in the case.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.