Libby man pleads guilty to trespass in dog napping case
The cases of two Libby residents charged with breaking into the county animal shelter and stealing a dog are making their respective ways through Lincoln County District Court.
Ronald Edward Ringsbye, 59, pleaded not guilty to one felony count of burglary in July.
But on Aug. 19, Ringsbye pleaded guilty to an amended charge of trespass, a misdemeanor. District Judge Matt Cuffe gave the man a six-month suspended sentence. Ringsbye received credit for serving 27 days in the county jail.
He must pay a $85 fee, but Cuffe suspended a $500 fine. If Ringsbye avoids any further legal issues during his probation, he won’t have to pay the fine. He has been free from custody since last month after his attorney. S. Charles Sprinkle sought a release on his own recognizance.
The other defendant in the case, Michelle Lynne Yeager, 54, is also charged with burglary. She is free after posting $25,000 bail on June 18. Yeager appeared in district court Monday, July 1 and pleaded not guilty. At an Aug. 19 hearing, her attorney Ben Kolter and county prosecutor Lauren O’Neill agreed a possible trial would last two days.
County deputy Andrew Smith and county detective Brandon Holzer investigated the case and O’Neill filed the charges.
According to Smith’s narrative, he went to the Tobacco Valley Animal Shelter on the morning of June 10 after an employee called and said the building was broken into and a dog was stolen. The employee showed Smith a window where a metal screen was removed and where she believed someone entered the building.
The employee also showed Smith an empty kennel where a dog named “Shep” was previously held. The dog had bit a person on May 27 and was surrendered to the county. Smith said Yeager understood that “Shep” would be euthanized.
Smith also reported he met with Yeager on June 3 at the shelter to release another dog, “Cookie,” who had been deemed a vicious dog by the court. Smith said Yeager asked him if he would let her take “Shep” home. The officer said he couldn’t do it because of the dog’s bite history.
Michelle was upset and Smith reported “Shep” was scheduled to be euthanized on June 11. Smith retrieved security camera video recordings from 5:10 a.m. to 5:15 a.m. June 10. He said he saw an unknown man, later identified as Ringsbye, in the kennel area where “Shep” was located. He also reported seeing a woman he believed was Yeager despite her wearing a hat and hood which covered her face.
Smith reported Yeager was aggressive with him and shelter employees since “Shep” was taken to the shelter.
The officer reported the dog recognized woman and through his body language is excited and happy to see her. In additional video footage, a vehicle is seen parked across Pipe Creek Road, which Smith believed Yeager was driving.
Det. Holzer spoke to Yeager after she was arrested on June 13 for allegedly breaking into the shelter. According to Holzer, Yeager said Ringsbye removed a screen, entered the building and opened the door for her.
Yeager allegedly admitted to taking her dog because she wanted it to be euthanized on her terms. She said her husband put the dog down at their favorite berry patch in the woods.
A conviction for burglary may result in a 20-year term in the Montana State Prison.
Michelle Yeager