Man pleads guilty to unlawful use of weapon

A Bismarck man has pleaded guilty to threatening a man with a hunting knife.

William Beelek Jr., 51, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon Feb. 21. Judge Pratte ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for April 18.

According to court records, Beelek pulled a knife on a man and threatened to kill him in front of other people. The incident occurred Sept. 23 in Bismarck.

In another case, a 32-year-old Park Hills woman pleaded guilty to possessing meth.

Raquel Wilfong pleaded guilty Feb. 21 to possessing a controlled substance. Judge Pratte ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for April 18.

According to court records, an undercover officer was just wrapping up a narcotics investigation when that suspect’s cell phone rang.

The officer told Wilfong the person she was looking for had been arrested and he was filling in. Wilfong asked for meth and they arranged a time and place to meet.

The undercover officer gave her a quarter gram of meth in a public area. Another officer involved in the investigation arrested her as she was walking away from a public restroom. She was found with the meth in her hand.

She faces up to six years in prison.

In another case, a 54-year-old woman pleaded guilty to delivering a controlled substance to a prisoner in the Farmington Correctional Center.

Eleanor Moore of Leadwood pleaded guilty Feb 21 to delivering a controlled substance as a prior and persistent offender. Judge Pratte ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for April 18.

According to court records, the Farmington Correctional Center found out about a phone call between an inmate and Moore who were talking about how Moore received money from inmates in the same housing unit.

On the same day, Moore and a man arrived at the prison to visit the inmate they had a phone conversation with.

During the visit, prison employees observed and videotaped what appeared to be the inmate swallowing a substance believed to be contraband.

The inmate later admitted he swallowed a balloon containing 10 oxycontin pills. He was placed under observation until he passed it.

In another case, a 57-year-old Park Hills man has pleaded guilty to molesting a girl.

Larry Stowers pleaded guilty Feb. 21 to sexual misconduct involving a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Judge Pratte ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for April 18.

As part of the plea agreement, a misdemeanor charge of furnishing pornographic material to a minor was dismissed.

According to court records, the child he had baby-sat told Division of Family Services officials he sexually abused her, exposed himself to her and showed her pictures and videotapes of nude adults and children.

When police questioned Stowers, he denied having tapes and refused to let them search his residence. He later stated his girlfriend may have brought a tape over and the girl may have seen it. He also said the girl had access to the computer and may have gotten on a Web site with nude photos without his knowledge.

During the plea hearing, Stowers said he had just gotten out of the shower when he exposed himself and told the girl to get off the computer.

Stowers faces five years in prison.

In another case, a 20-year-old Farmington man has pleaded guilty to stealing from a daycare.

Jacob Cantrell pleaded guilty Feb. 21 to second-degree burglary. Judge Pratte ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for April 18. As a part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to file additional charges.

According to court records, Cantrell broke into a daycare through a back window and stole a VCR, a Sega, 17 games and a stereo.

Farmington police officers found a shoe print in the mud and one on a picnic table that was against the building. They were also able to find latex fingerprints on the window. The fingerprints were sent off and identified as Cantrell’s.

Cantrell told police he partied too hard one night and decided to break into the daycare. He put the items in someone else’s car but he said they were stolen from him.

He faces seven years in prison.

In another case, a 38-year-old Park Hills man pleaded guilty to assault among other things.

Michael L. Smith pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree domestic assault, resisting arrest by fleeing, and possessing a controlled substance. Judge Pratte ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for April 18.

Smith was arrested Sept. 30, 2000 on a traffic stop in Desloge. A Desloge officer stopped Smith’s vehicle after noticing it weaving on the roadway. When Smith was pulled over, he acted nervous. Officers found a bag filled with what was believed to be meth.

He was also arrested in Park Hills for striking a family member and then trying to flee from police.

In another case, Darryl Laws pleaded guilty Feb. 21 to one count of failing to pay child support. Another count was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Judge Pratte ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for April 18.