Eureka woman pleads guilty to stealing from blind man

A Eureka woman accused of meth possession and stealing money from a blind man was sentenced Monday in Lincoln County District Court.

Sofiah Eden Serene Slette, 20, was charged with one count of felony theft, one count of felony drug possession and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.

Slette’s attorney, Sean Hinchey, and Lincoln County Deputy Attorney Jeff Zwang agreed to have her plead no contest to felony theft in exchange for dismissal of the meth possession and paraphernalia charges.

Part of the plea deal was a joint recommendation from both sides for a 4-year deferred sentence. Slette must stay out of trouble or the county could seek revocation which means she could see time behind bars.

Slette is also on the hook for paying $5,117.64 in restitution and $511.76 in fees. The money must be paid by the end of the deferred sentence.

District Judge Matt Cuffe said he agreed with the deferred sentence.

“I believe it’s appropriate with this being her first offense,” Cuffe said. “I wish you good luck.”

According to the probable cause statement filed by Sheriff’s Deputy Bobbie Noel, Slette allegedly took more than $5,000 from a checking account belonging to two Eureka residents who said they did not give her permission to take the money.

The cash withdrawals, done with an online application, began on Dec. 29, 2021 and ended on March 22, 2022.

On April 13, Deputy Noel read the withdrawals from the account to one man, who is blind. The other man said he gave Slette access to his phone and that is how she was able to make the withdrawals.

Also, on the same day, Noel served a search warrant at the Berger Lane residence. The officer reported finding Slette in the basement of the home.

Next to her were small bags containing a white substance, which field tested positive for meth, according to court documents. The officer also reported finding a syringe full of a yellow substance, glass pipes and five empty syringes.

Slette had faced a maximum term of 10 years in the Montana State Prison for theft. For possession, the maximum is five years. Conviction for drug paraphernalia possession could result in a six-month term in the county jail.