Mottsman declares innocence

Says name legally is Sam Haley Rose

Harry Paul Mottsman, “Sam Haley Rose,” appeared before Flathead County District Court Judge, David M. Ortley, at 9 a.m. Thursday for his arraignment and stated his full name is Samuel Haley Rose.

During the court hearing, Mottsman stated he changed his name legally to Samuel Haley Rose. At this time, court documents read Harry Paul Mottsman aka Samuel Haley Rose.

Mottsman was arrested Nov. 30 for a warrant in Flathead County for alleged forgery. The warrant was issued by Flathead County in 2009 when Mottsman allegedly forged two checks.

A “Sam A. Rose” allegedly opened a bank account with Glacier Bank in Flathead County in 2003. Check No. 192290 was deposited into the account for the amount of $1,996 on April 7, 2009. The checks were drawn on an account in the name Morgan, Richard & Marks, LLC., from the Comerica Bank. The second check, No. 192288, in the amount of $5,150 was deposited April 10, 2009.

Funds from the “Sam A. Rose” account were withdrawn before the checks were returned as counterfeit. A Glacier Bank employee contacted Flathead County Sheriff’s Office Detective, Sgt. Pat Walsh, to report the matter.

Walsh discovered during his investigation the Social Security number (SSN) and date-of-birth (DOB) provided by Samuel A. Rose, to establish the Glacier Bank account, was false. A criminal background check led Walsh to discover “Samuel Alexander Rose” was an alias name for Mottsman and his DOB was not March 20, 1959, it was March 20, 1956.

The Rose account was established the same year Mottsman’s Pennsylvania driver’s license expired.

At his arraignment Thursday, the State of Montana vs. Harry Paul Mottsman aka Samuel Haley Rose, Mottsman pleaded “not guilty” to felony-forgery charges.

Mottsman will be represented by a public defender, Attorney Brent Getty.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 18; a pre-trial conference for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 1, and a jury trial beginning at 9:30 a.m. Monday March 5.

Mottsman, who with Lynn Haley Rose, are outspoken critics of the Montanore Project, is released on bond, and the assigned trial attorney is Stewart E. Stradler.

Montanore is a copper and silver mining project located about 18 miles south of Libby.