Former Troy mayor brought up on charges

A former mayor of Troy faces multiple charges after authorities found a photo of him allegedly removing an alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet from a woman on Facebook earlier this year.

Authorities charged Anthony Edward Brown, 72, with felony theft and obstructing a peace officer, a misdemeanor, in Lincoln County District Court. He pleaded not guilty during his June 28 arraignment.

According to court records, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at Brown’s Troy home about 11:30 p.m., May 17 to arrest Karyl Steele on a probation violation. In an affidavit, Deputy Derek Breiland wrote that he was there at the request of Probation Officer Vanessa Williamson after authorities found a photo Brown had uploaded to Facebook documenting the removal of Steele’s ankle bracelet. Steele was living with Brown since her release from jail, court documents said.

Brown, who served as Troy’s mayor from 1974-79 and again in 2012, answered the door when Breiland arrived. When the deputy asked to speak with Steele, Brown tried to pass over the paperwork related to the conditions of her release instead.

Breiland insisted upon seeing Steele. When she finally came to the door, Breiland saw that she was missing the ankle bracelet, court documents said. He asked her to step outside and told her she was under arrest.

At that, Steele tried to pull away and retreat into the house, court documents said. Breiland wrote that he grabbed her arm to stop her. Steele continued to try and pull away, according to the affidavit, and Breiland warned her against resisting arrest, saying he would use his Taser if necessary.

Brown then stepped in and allegedly tried to hold Steele back. Breiland remembered telling Brown to back up or he, too, would get shocked with the Taser.

As Breiland drew the Taser, Brown began yelling, according to the affidavit, threatening to sue if the device were used. After a brief struggle, Breiland got Steele back outside of the home and placed her in handcuffs.

Brown allegedly continued to yell at Breiland, asking for the reason for Steele’s arrest. In the affidavit, Breiland recalled telling Brown that the arrest stemmed from Steele’s missing ankle bracelet.

“She had permission. I made the call,” Brown allegedly screamed at Breiland.

Steele, still standing in handcuffs, told the deputy that if Williamson had ordered the arrest, she needed to be on scene, according to court documents. Breiland agreed to call Williamson, but not before putting Steele inside his cruiser.

In the affidavit, Breiland wrote that Steele smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage and appeared intoxicated. Steele has racked up alcohol-related charges in multiple jurisdictions, according to court documents.

After getting Steele into his vehicle, Breiland called Williamson and explained the situation. Williamson instructed Breiland to give her phone number to Brown.

Brown called the probation officer as Breiland stood nearby. The deputy heard Williamson explain the reasoning for Steele’s arrest and Brown said he understood, allegedly admitting during the conversation that he cut off Steele’s ankle bracelet. He also overheard Brown describing him in vulgar terms after ending the phone call, according the court documents.

After taking Steele to the Lincoln County Detention Center, Breiland sent his report to the county attorney’s office, recommending they bring charges against Brown following the confrontation.

According to a report filed by Williamson, Steele was released from jail just days earlier, on May 12, and was immediately outfitted with a SCRAM bracelet. She began complaining the device caused her pain a day later, Williamson wrote, though the probation officer did not notice any redness or swelling around the ankle.

On May 15, Brown allegedly left Williamson a message, reporting swelling around Steele’s ankle and expressing concerns about the bracelet. He said he thought it needed to be removed “to save her ankle,” Williamson wrote.

Williamson recalled contacting Steele and telling her that she should seek medical attention. The only way the device was coming off, Williamson remembered telling Steele, was owing to a medical emergency or if the court changed her monitoring type.

Steele allegedly told Williamson later in the day that she called the hospital and they would not remove the device. Her foot was turning blue, she allegedly told Williamson.

Williamson wrote that she told Steele go to an emergency room.

A day later, Deputy James Derryberry came across a photo on Facebook showing Steel free of the ankle bracelet, leading to the May 17 arrest. Williamson subsequently contacted the agency that distributes the bracelets and informed them of Steele’s incarceration.

But, as of May 21, the bracelet remained missing. Williamson recounted contacting Brown about the device’s whereabouts. He allegedly told her it was still at his home. He wanted to speak with someone regarding possible radiation poisoning from the device, according to court documents.

Williamson warned him that Steele would ace a felony if the equipment went unreturned.

Williamson bumped into Brown again at Steele’s May 27 bond hearing in Lincoln County Justice Court. In an affidavit, she recalled offering to collect the bracelet from him then without success.

“He made several comments about how it wasn’t working anyway while she was wearing it …,” Williamson wrote. “He said he had the equipment in his vehicle, and I asked if he would bring it into my office and he said he wanted to take care of it himself.”

As of June 9, the equipment remained outstanding, Williamson wrote.

Felony theft carries a maximum punishment of three years in Montana State Prisonand a fine of up to $1,500. Misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer carries a penalty of up to six months in county jail and a $500 fine.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4 with a pretrial conference to follow on Nov. 8. A trial date is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 14.