Former Grand Junction fire chief and ambulance driver Thomas Michael Launderville, 40, of Grand Junction was sentenced Aug. 28 in district court to 180 days of jail on a charge of operating while intoxicated- second offense. He was driving a Grand Junction ambulance at the time of the offense. All but 18 days of the jail term was suspended and he was placed on probation to Boone/Greene County Probation for one year. Launderville will receive credit for four days of the jail time if he completes two weekend OWI-second offense jail diversion programs. He must complete a community college drinking drivers school and any recommendations of a substance abuse evaluation. Launderville was fined $1,875 with a $281.25 surcharge. Disposition followed a trial on minutes of testimony by Judge Derek Johnson.
According to court documents, Jefferson police sergeant Shane Jones was listening to radio traffic when Grand Junction fire and rescue was dispatched last Nov. 2 to a residence in Grand Junction. Jones thought the ambulance driver was slurring is speech heavily on the radio, and he went to the medical center and met the ambulance when it arrived there. He helped unload the patient and followed the driver, whom he identified as Launderville, out of the building. According to Jones’ affidavit, he could smell a strong odor of alcohol and Launderville was unsteady on his feet.
Launderville refused to do standard field sobriety tests or to submit to a breath test. Jones arrested him for OWI and took him to the Law Enforcement Center. There, Launderville agreed to a breath specimen, which showed a blood alcohol content of 0.21 percent, well over the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Launderville has since been removed from the fire and rescue department. Launderville had previously been convicted for OWI in 2014.
Lauren Marie Verle Schulte, 26, of Jefferson was sentenced Aug. 28 to 10 days in jail after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of possession of marijuana. She was given credit for time previously served. The sentence is consecutive to the jail sentence in another Greene County case and concurrent to jail terms in cases in any other counties. She must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at her own expense. Schulte was not fined. Court costs were $100. (Sentencing: Honorable Joseph B. McCarville)
Scott Randolph Luke, 32, of Grand Junction was sentenced Aug. 20 to 10 days in jail after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of driving while license barred. He was fined $625 with a $93.75 surcharge; both were suspended. Luke must pay restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees not to exceed $1,000. Court costs were $55. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Greg William Hackler, 30, of Jefferson as sentenced to one year in jail after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of driving while license barred. All but 12 days of the jail term was suspended and he was placed on informal probation to the county sheriff for one year. Hackler was fined $650 with a $97.50 surcharge; both were waived. Hackler must pay up to $1,200 restitution for his court appointed attorneys fees and $100 court costs. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Kaleb Lee Lentz, 26, of Scranton was sentenced to four days in jail after he changed his plea to guilty to a charge of driving while license revoked. He was given credit for time previously served. He was fined $1,000 with a $150 surcharge. He must pay restitution for his court appointed attorney’s fees not to exceed $1,200. Court costs were $300. (Sentencing: McCarville)
Persons pleaded not guilty at arraignment as follows: Julie Ann Wells, 53, of Auburn, possession of marijuana- third or subsequent offense (three counts), and unlawful possession of prescription drug (two counts); Justin Michael Cosnotti, 35, of Jefferson, possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, domestic abuse assault- third or subsequent offense, willful injury causing serious injury, harassment- first degree, false imprisonment and child endangerment; and in a separate case against Cosnotti, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon. Trial dates were set for Nov. 3 in every case.
Cases were initiated in district court as follows: Jeremy William Roper, 36, of Churdan, OWI- first offense; Cameron James Hammer, 17, of Paton, operating vehicle without owner’s consent; and Matthew John Goff, 46, of Jefferson, criminal mischief- fourth degree and trespass.
