Juvenile criminals sentenced to probation
Four more juveniles linked to a spree of felonies and misdemeanors in Martin City, Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls and Helena Flats have been sentenced.
A fifth juvenile, James Smith, 13, Hungry Horse, was the only member of the group to be incarcerated. He was 12 when most of the crimes took place and escaped from the Flathead County Juvenile Center last August. Smith was sentenced on Dec. 21 to the Montana Department of Corrections’ Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility until he turns 18 or is approved for earlier release.
Smith’s brother, Mathew Hauck, 15, Martin City, was charged with felony counts of theft and burglary and misdemeanor counts of theft, criminal mischief, accountability to assault, criminal trespass to property and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hauck was accused of hitting a moving vehicle with a rock, stealing video games and a movie, being in possession of cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana, stealing a purse from a girl’s locker, stealing a car, egging on an assault that was recorded on a cell phone, stealing a wallet in a bar, breaking into the Canyon Elementary School, shoplifting at Super 1 Foods, stealing an ATV, several firearms and other items from a Martin City home, and stealing a van.
Hauck was sentenced on Dec. 14 to probation at least until he turns 18, placed on house arrest for 90 days, and ordered to complete chemical dependency classes.
A professional counselor who testified at Smith’s and Hauck’s hearings said their mother has been in and out of prison for years on drug charges. In 2008, she took them to Ohio where she was an addict and drug dealer and where Smith was threatened by drug dealers. After Child Protective Services placed the two boys in foster care for four months, they returned to Montana to live with their grandmother.
Daniel Trenk, 16, Coram, was initially charged with felony intimidation and misdemeanor counts of assault and criminal trespass to property. He was accused of assaulting a boy in Martin City, which resulted in two cheekbone fractures and a broken nose. Trenk was sentenced on June 15 to probation for at least one year.
Skyla Komeotis, 16, Kalispell, was initially charged with felony counts of burglary and theft and misdemeanor counts of partner-family member assault, theft, accountability to theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, disorderly conduct, obstructing a peace officer, privacy in communications and assault.
She was accused of hitting her brother with a baseball bat, stealing an ATV, stealing firearms and electronics from a home, stealing a van, stealing wine and cigarettes, and threatening and assaulting a girl. Komeotis was sentenced on Sept. 30 to probation for at least one year.
Christian Close, 15, Hungry Horse, was initially charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass to property, theft, criminal mischief, accountability to assault, obstructing a peace officer, disorderly conduct, privacy in communications and criminal trespass to vehicles.
He was accused of breaking a window at the Lion Lake restroom, stealing an iPod from a gym locker, breaking into the Canyon Elementary School, taunting a girl at school who contemplated suicide, and stealing items from two vehicles. Close was sentenced on Oct. 12 to probation for at least one year.