Sauer pleads guilty to delivery, grand theft charges
WALLACE — Wednesday’s law day at the Shoshone County Court House featured 27 cases being presented to Judge Scott Wayman. Of those cases, 16 involved drug related charges, six involved violent crimes, eight involved property crimes, two involved forgery charges, and one involved a DUI (several cases involved multiple types of charges).
Among the cases that were heard was that of 19-year old Timothy Sauer, who pleaded guilty to charges of delivery of a schedule I controlled substance (heroin) and grand theft by possession of a stolen firearm.
Sauer was initially arrested last month by local law enforcement officials for unlawful possession of a firearm, theft by receiving or possessing stolen property, conceal carrying a weapon without a license, and possession of a canceled/fictitious/or damaged drivers license.
His later delivery of heroin charge is connected to the drug overdose death of a Kellogg man last year.
The charges carry potentially heavy sentences, as delivery of a schedule I substance carries a max sentence of life in prison and a $25,000 fine and the grand theft charge could carry a max sentence of 14 years in prison and $5,000 fine.
The charges stemmed from a collaborative multi-agency investigation involving the Kellogg Police Department, Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the Osburn Police Department.
The complaint from that investigation alleges that in November 2017, Sauer provided one Jesse Cruzan with a quantity of heroin. Cruzan used the substance and overdosed as a result. Sauer was not sentenced following his guilty plea, but his sentencing date has been set for June 6, at 10:30 a.m.
Another notable case presented to Judge Wayman was that of 46-year old John Westfall. Westfall was arrested last October on charges of forcible sexual penetration by use of foreign object using violence, sexual crime against nature, and sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult.
He has entered pleas of not guilty to all three charges, so the Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced they are ready for their April 17 jury trial.
Court records indicate that Westfall has faced various violent crimes in the past, including an aggravated assault charge that he was found guilty of in 1997 that resulted in an 18-month prison sentence.