Her “squeaky clean” criminal background earned a Billings woman a break at sentencing last week for driving under the influence of methamphetamine.
Thelma Weil, 52, was arrested July 2 after driving erratically at 95 miles per hour on Interstate 90. She also crossed the media and drove the wrong direction, Jefferson County Attorney Steve Haddon told Judge Loren Tucker. Before that episode, though, she had no criminal convictions and only two driving violations more than 25 years ago, he said. Weil admitted felony possession of dangerous drugs and driving under the influence. As part of a plea agreement, Haddon recommended dismissing three other counts and giving her a deferred two year sentence for the drug charge plus six months in jail with all but 24 hours suspended and a $600 fine.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Tucker said the recommendation was “very generous.” He accepted the recommendation and ordered her to undergo a chemical dependency evaluation. While on probation she must be employed full time, avoid alcohol and illegal drugs, stay out of bars, not have a law enforcement scanner or firearms, avoid parolees and probationers and submit DNA sample. The judge told Weil it was unfortunate she could not have seen what happened in the closed hearing just before hers. He called it a case of “lives being absolutely wrecked because of meth.” He wished Weil good luck in getting her life back in order. An Idaho man who stole from a Whitehall leather shop entered guilty pleas to felony burglary, felony theft and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Joshua Ray Easley, 38, admitted the three charges in a plea agreement. Haddon said the crime was rather inexplicable for someone so young and astute with no significant criminal history. Easley said he had been drinking the night before and worked out a deal to buy a truck, but it turned out the guy he paid for the truck did not own it. The crime was discovered because someone reported the truck as stolen and the items taken from the leather shop were still in it. The defendant said, “I can’t explain it. I’d never done anything like that before.” He was on medication at the time and his doctor changed his prescription afterward, said Easley.
Judge Tucker said he usually reserves deferred sentences for immature defendants, and said it was “with some degree of surprise” he was granting the deferred imposition of sentence for three years. Easley was fined $3000 with $1500 suspended, sentenced to six months in jail with all but 12 days suspended with credit for 12 days served and ordered to undergo a chemical dependency evaluation of follow through with recommendations.
