HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – A Havre man was arraigned Tuesday on two separate cases in Hill County District Court. Jesse Shane Valdez pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Valdez has also been charged with deliberate homicide after allegedly attacking and killing Gordon Cochran in his cell at the Hill County Detention Center on November 17th. In this case, the State is waiting for the official appointment of the office of public defender and they anticipate the discovery to be disseminated by the end of the week
Court documents say Valdez may have believed that Cochran had something to do with a relatives death. Valdez admitted to the fight, but claimed he was acting in self defense. He admitted to stomping on Cochran’s neck while he was on the ground and throwing him into the wall. It’s believed Cochran’s severe head wound occurred after he hit the metal edge of the bunk.
As of Thursday morning, Valdez was still being held in the Hill County Detention Center on bonds totaling over $545,000.
