Helena-area felony arrests: Assault on minor, stolen U-Haul, forgery, trespassing, drugs | Crime & Courts | helenair.com

2022-07-12 01:43:27 By : Ms. Judy Huang

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A 30-year-old Helena man has been arrested on suspicion of harming and denying medical attention for a child under age 14.

Bradley Leggitt, the father of the child, is being charged with felony assault on a minor and first offense misdemeanor endangering the welfare of children.

On Thursday, authorities were dispatched to do a welfare check on a child. Photos provided by the complainant showed a child with significant injuries, according to officials.

Authorities reported there were visible injuries to a child under the age of 14. The parents had not sought medical attention for the child, officials said. 

Leggitt initial said the child had run into a wall. However, authorities said this description was not consistent with the level of injury to the child. 

Leggitt later admitted that he had hit the child in the face, officials said. The father stated that the child had an extensive medical history, “including skull-expanding surgery,” according to court records.

Leggitt stated that he told the mother of the child not to seek medical attention to treat the injury.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

A 36-year-old Helena man was arrested on suspicion of driving a stolen U-Haul truck with a suspended license while under the influence of drugs. 

Jared Decaccia is charged with felony theft, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor first offense DUI, and misdemeanor driving a motor vehicle while privilege is suspended or revoked.

Decaccia was pulled over July 7 after driving 59 mph through a Lincoln Road construction zone with a 35 mph speed limit, according to the arrest affidavit filed in Justice Court of Helena.

He had a suspended driver license out of California.

According to court documents, Decaccia could not provide the vehicle’s registration but did provide a rental agreement signed under another person's name. The U-Haul was reported stolen out of California, the documents state. 

Decaccia declined a consent search of the vehicle. The Helena’s Police Department’s K-9 unit arrived at the scene, and a narcotics dog hit on the vehicle.

While being taken to jail, Decaccia allegedly tried to get rid of a small plastic container containing white powdery substance. Decaccia said it was meth and that he had consumed some of it a few hours before the traffic stop, but authorities said testing did not test positive for meth or opiates.

Three other drug items were discovered on Decaccia during a search. Authorities said two of the items appear similar to heroin, and the third appears to be similar to the powder Decaccia left scattered in the transport car. These substances had not yet been tested, according to court records.

Decaccia went through standardized field sobriety testing and was found to be under the influence of drugs, court records state. He also kept falling asleep and displayed signs of visible body tremors, authorities said. 

Decaccia refused a blood test, but a district court judge granted a blood warrant.

During a search of the U-Haul, authorities found a folded up and burnt piece of tin foil with a crystal type of substance inside that tested positive for meth. Also removed from the vehicle was a metal pipe, a roll of tin foil, numerous butane lighters, torches with butane refill canisters, 92 plastic bags, and 17 round plastic containers.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A 42-year-old Helena man is charged with his first felony forgery offense and his second felony accountability for forgery offense. 

According to court records, video surveillance from June 27 showed a male matching Cory Bouldin's description at the same location where someone else was attempting to pass a forged check for $4,297. Bouldin was seen holding a similar check that was also believed to be forged. 

Bouldin was arrested on June 30 for unrelated charges. A forged check for $3,695 was found on Bouldin at the time of his arrest. The check was almost identical to the check that was attempted to be passed on June 27. 

Bouldin said he was in a relationship with the person who tried to pass the $4,297 check. 

Bouldin was already in the Lewis and Clark Detention Center on prior charges of felony theft and criminal possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest, according to previous Independent Record reporting.

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A 37-year-old Helena man is accused of breaking into a private residence and ingesting drugs. 

Jacob Taylor is charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor criminal trespass to property, according to a complaint filed June 1 in Justice Court of Helena.

On Oct. 30, 2020, deputies responded to a report of a trespass on private property. The woman who owned the residence told authorities that she had already informed Taylor that he was not allowed on her property.

Taylor was standing on the front porch of the residence when deputies arrived. He was detained, and authorities entered the house. There was a used syringe lying on a mattress and a glass bong nearby, officials said.

A deputy tested the syringe and bong, and both were presumptive positive for methamphetamine, according to an arrest affidavit filed on May 24.

The deputy informed Taylor of his Miranda Rights. Taylor admitted to using the bong and taking dangerous drugs, officials said. 

All charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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