Sheriff, officials named in lawsuit face trial

Former Libby resident Rob Hubbard has spent two years working on a lawsuit  filed against several Lincoln County officials. It is fast approaching its time in a Missoula federal court.

Hubbard filed the suit after he claims a countywide cover-up was used to ruin his life. The defendants have claimed the suit has no legal basis. A district judge will decide the matter starting June 24 in the District Court of Montana.

“Even if I don’t win, I’ve already won,” Hubbard said. “Nobody takes these guys to task because they are scared of them, and I see why.”

The defendants named in the case run the gamut, and include Justice of the Peace Jay Sheffield, Deputy County Attorney Joe Cik, Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe, former-Sheriff’s Office Lt. Roger Guches, former deputy Scott Rebo, Montana Highway Patrolman Bryce Ford, Victim’s Advocate Carol Ramos and several other named and unnamed individuals. 

Hubbard has room in his ever-growing suit for more defendants to be added in this discovery period leading up to the trial.

Greg Bonilla, an attorney representing the county officials, said Hubbard’s claims are groundless.

“It’s our position there is no merit to this suit,” Bonilla said. “All we can say to the press is that we do not believe there is any merit.”

Hubbard claims the inter-agency conspiracy started in 2010, when he and friends were at Libby Marina celebrating their 20th high school reunion. One intoxicated friend was too boisterous and police were called. Hubbard and the noisy friend were given a $100 fine.

Hubbard fought and beat the charge, Jan. 20, 2011, after filing for a trial de novo, or new trial by a different court, where he accepted a plea bargain.

This, Hubbard claims, angered Sheffield, who then allegedly chewed out Cik. Cik declined comment and Sheffield said any comment would be inappropriate on his part.

After this incident at the courthouse, Hubbard’s new lawyer, L. Jason Bryan, received an phone call from Cik. Bryan called Hubbard and let him know “he was a target.”

An altercation between Hubbard and his 17-year-old son at the end of March 2011 turned sour quickly for the elder Hubbard, who was arrested and charged with partner-family assault.

Those incidents on the afternoon of March 20 form the foundation of Hubbard’s case. 

The details in those few minutes are many, but Hubbard claims a conspiracy and secret phone call between the responding officers – Travis Smith and Guches – and Sheriff Bowe are what landed him unjustly in jail.

Hubbard went to trial over the assault-charge and won handily.

“With no witnesses I just used the truth,” he said. “Six people found me not-guilty in about 35 minutes.”

Hubbard claims the time he was forced to remain in Montana during the trial cost him dearly in his job running a beverage company, in which he travelled out-of-state regularly. He was also not allowed to see his children for several months while they were placed in a relative's home.

Hubbard claims that planted evidence were the factors that prompted the lawsuit. 

“If they are held liable there is no reason the Montana Attorney General’s office wouldn’t come in here and remove these people,” he said. “Their malicious, falsifying ways have ruined my life.”

Bowe claimed Hubbard’s case had no merit, but declined to comment further. Guches also declined comment. 

Hubbard is so confident in his case, he has stated he will not accept any amount of money in a settlement, but would rather put the defendants on the stand in Missoula. 

Hubbard is representing himself, and has poured enough hours in this case where he feels a win is all but a guarantee. Because of this, he has extended a peace offering to several members of the defendants.

“If any of the defendants who were pulled into this coverup,” Hubbard said. “If they come forward, admit it, and promise to point the fingers where they need to be pointed, I would release them from the settlement.”

Several calls to remaining defendants went unreturned.