Helena-area felony arrest report: Stalking, burglary, assault, intimidation and drugs

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Helena man charged with stalking and intimidation

A 53-year-old Helena man is accused of stalking a woman he met in rehab after sending her 47 handwritten letters.

Tom Anthony Roach was charged with two counts of felony stalking and one felony count of intimidation.

The victim reported stalking by Roach as far back as October 2019. She had met the defendant at an inpatient treatment program in 2015. Between the spring and fall of 2019, Roach allegedly sent more than 47 letters to the victim's grandmother's home.

The initial report of stalking occurred when the defendant was living in Portland, Oregon. At that time, Helena authorities contacted the Portland Police Department to respond to the defendant's residence and serve an order of no contact. Roach allegedly ignored this warning and sent the victim a message that read "So as your life becomes ever more difficult, remember why. You should have never sent the cops to my place."

Over the next few months, Roach allegedly created new social media accounts that weren't blocked by the victim in order to contact her. Most of the contact implored the victim to get into contact with him.

The victim told investigators that she used the defendant as a means to obtain dangerous drugs in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The victim advised she had no romantic interest in Roach, but he had romanticized her. She said her last consented contact with Roach was in 2018, and at that point she told him to stop contacting her.

Later in 2018, Roach traveled to Helena to try and locate the victim. During this time, Roach allegedly engaged in further stalking behavior, including sending unwanted gifts.

The victim eventually moved to Great Falls, leaving her name off the lease for fear of Roach finding her. She also changed vehicles, phone numbers and social media accounts at this time.

Roach eventually located the victim and allegedly continued to stalk her.

Upon reviewing the letters, investigators discovered photos of a shrine of pictures of the victim in the defendant's home. The letters made references to the victim giving "whats owed" and referencing the victim either paying money or entering into a relationship with the defendant.

The investigation determined that the victim "completely altered her life as a means to avoid the defendant." Given that those alterations persist to this day, authorities determined that the victim had suffered substantial emotional distress.

East Helena man charged with burglary and theft

Nicholas Caine Gunsch is charged with felony theft, felony burglary and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

The charges stem from an incident in July 2019 when a cabin off Rimini Road was robbed of approximately $5,620 worth of valuables. In addition to the stolen items, there was damage to the cabin and items in it estimated at $175.

During the investigation, deputies noticed out of place items in the cabin. The items were seized in the hopes that fingerprints could be gathered. One such print was located and sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for analysis.

Approximately nine months later, the deputy received a report back from the crime lab matching the print to Gunsch.

Mississippi man charged with assaulting partner

A 30-year-old Mississippi man has been charged with assaulting his partner after an incident in Lewis and Clark County.

Kevin Monroe Oquist is charged with felony partner or family member assault (third offense), misdemeanor criminal destruction of or tampering with a communication device, misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Deputies responded to reports of a male yelling at a female in late April. The female was reportedly sobbing and had a chunk of hair pulled from her head.

Deputies arrived at the scene and made contact with Oquist and the victim. Oquist appeared to be crying and intoxicated with a bloody nose, according to deputies. He told the deputies the victim had punched him in the face numerous times. He denied hitting the victim and pulling her hair.

Oquist allegedly attempted to leave the scene while being questioned by a deputy. After being detained, he allegedly threatened physical violence against the deputies in a swear-laden verbal confrontation.

The victim told deputies she and Oquist had been arguing in a parked vehicle when the defendant grabbed her hair and started pulling it. The victim said she punched the defendant multiple times in the face to defend herself from him, and a large clump of her hair was ripped out at this time.

She attempted to call 911 from her cellphone, but the defendant allegedly threw the phone along with the car keys out the window of the vehicle.

Upon reviewing the defendant's criminal history, the deputies discovered two prior convictions for partner or family member assault. Oquist was arrested and charged.

Helena man accused of strangling partner

A 48-year-old Helena man is accused of strangling and hitting his partner.

James Dean Cutshall is charged with felony strangulation of a partner or family member and a misdemeanor partner or family member assault (second offense).

The incident occurred on April 28 when Cutshall and his partner were returning home from drinking at a friend's house. The victim told authorities that an argument broke out in the car, which turned into a physical altercation.

The victim said Cutshall strangled her with his bare hands and punched her two or three times in the side of the face. This led to difficulties breathing and abrasions on the right side of her face.

Authorities determined the victim's injuries were consistent with her statement.

Helena man charged with felony intimidation

Justin James Fifield allegedly threatened "various forms of serious bodily harm" in order to "get the victim to commit lawful acts with no legitimate authority."

A Helena Police Department officer responded in late April to meet with the victim regarding ongoing threats and harassment via text messages.

The officer reported having dealt with all parties involved previously. The officer advised the defendant, who was already under supervision for a stalking conviction, to cease contacting the other parties.

Later, the officer received copies of the text message threats that continued after the warning.

Helena woman charged with heroin possession

Brandi Lanae Harper was charged with felony possession of dangerous drugs. Additionally, she was charged with misdemeanor paraphernalia possession and a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession without a medical card.

This incident occurred when Harper's probation GPS stopped transmitting. Probation advised of the defendant's drug problem and requested assistance in locating her.

Authorities located Harper in a hotel room. During a probationary search authorities found a small amount of marijuana, several pipes for methamphetamine and marijuana and several syringes, two containing what the authorities believed to be heroin.