By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – A Havre man has pleaded guilty to felony forgery and has been found in violation of his release in two previous forgery cases.
Zakery Dale Jones pleaded guilty to felony forgery by common scheme last Monday in Hill County District Court. The plea agreement asks for a 3 year sentence in the Department of Corrections, all suspended.
According to court documents, between November 19 and December 1, 2019, Jones forged checks with a total value over $2,800.
Sentencing is set for July 6th at 11 AM.
At the same hearing, Jones pleaded not guilty to five charges, including two counts of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, in a new case.
Court documents filed in that case allege that on May 2nd, 2020, Jones was pulled over in a vehicle he did not own by the Havre Police Department.
Jones did not have a Driver’s License and appeared fidgety when approached. After a search warrant was granted, officers located methamphetamine and heroin either on his person or in the vehicle. Jones has claimed that the methamphetamine was his but the heroin was not.
No future court dates have been set in that case.
Then, on Thursday, May 21st, Jones appeared again in Hill County District Court, this time on allegations of violating the conditions of his release in two different 2018 forgery cases.
Jones admitted to violating seven separate release conditions in the cases in which he was convicted of felony issuing bad checks, felony issuing bad checks by common scheme and misdemeanor issuing a bad check.
For the case where Jones was convicted of felony issuing bad checks by common scheme and misdemeanor issuing a bad check, Jones had his suspended sentence revoked and was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections, all suspended.
For the case where Jones was convicted of felony issuing bad checks, Jones had his suspended sentence revoked and was sentenced to three years in the Department of Corrections.
Jones remains in the Hill County Detention Center.
