MT - James Hurley, 12, tortured to death, W. Yellowstone, Feb 2020 grandparents & uncle arrested #1

[Niner]

Anyone find any news articles re hearing for JS jr?? All I'm getting over here are some oldies.

TIA!

 

[Niner]

Since I have no access to the court site this morning - giving me an error message - I'll post this - and if anyone reading here has access - please correct me if I'm wrong! TIA!

Tuesday, July 7th:
*Preliminary Hearing (JSIII only) (@ am MT) – MT – James Alexander Hurley (12) (found Feb. 3, 2020 deceased in living room, West Yellowstone) – *James Danny Sasser III (14) (uncle of James) arrested (2/12/20), charged (2/18/20) & arraigned (3/5/20) with 1 count of felony deliberate homicide (as an adult). Plead not guilty. Held in Yellowstone Youth Center juvenile facility in Billings. $500K bond. Gallatin County
2/12/20 Update: James Sasser III appeared in juvenile court. Youth court will determine if he stands trial as an adult. 2/18/20: DA has filed charges as an adult with Deliberate Homicide (which in Montana can be the equivalent of Murder in First Degree) and Gallatin County Judge John Brown on Wednesday (2/19/20) set a hearing for 3/5/20 to decide whether to try JSIII as an adult for torturing and beating his 12-year-old nephew to death. Defense filed motion to rescind that decision, and remand it back into the juvenile system.
3/5/20 Update: Sasser III appeared via video in Gallatin County Justice Court & entered a plea of not guilty. Sasser's bail was set at $500,000. He is expected to be tried as an adult; that determination will be made officially at his next court appearance on July 7. He remains in custody at a juvenile facility in Billings.
*James Danny Sasser, Jr. (47/now 48) – Arraignment hearing was on 6/25/20. No update as of 7/1/20
*Patricia Lynn Batts (48) – Omnibus hearing was on 7/29/20.
*Gage Anthony Roush (18) – Status hearing was on 4/21/20. No update as of 7/1/20.
*Madison Sasser (18) – Hearing on 5/1/20. No update as of 7/1/20.
James was sent to Montana to live with his father (~August 2017) by his mother; father was hospitalized in Nov. 2017 died in January, 2018 & ended up living with grandparents. Videos of abuse dating back to December 2019. "Detectives observed videos of what appeared to be the family torturing (James)," the complaint said. Instances of the abuse included James being forced to do exercises -- jumping jacks and wall squats -- along with standing in front of a fan with no clothing but his underwear, according to the complaint. Videos reviewed by detectives also showed the suspects spraying James in the face with an unknown substance that burned him and choking him, & detectives also found food in the house was locked up so James did not have access to it. Roush could be seen on cell phone video beating Hurley with a paddle. Under Montana law, deliberate homicide by means of torture is one of the aggravating circumstances that would allow the county attorney’s office to seek the death penalty.”

 

[JerseyGirl]

Anyone find any news articles re hearing for JS jr?? All I'm getting over here are some oldies.

TIA!

From March 2020:

James Sasser III, 14 years old, entered a plea of not guilty in connection with the death of 12-year-old James Alex Hurley, who was allegedly killed outside of West Yellowstone, on or about February 3.

The teen's bail was set at $500,000. He is expected to be tried as an adult; that determination will be made officially at his next court appearance on July 7.

Teen pleads not guilty in death of West Yellowstone boy

 

[mickey2942]

Death penalty sought for West Yellowstone grandmother

I didn't realize this. Wow.

 

[Lusitana]

Death penalty sought for West Yellowstone grandmother

I didn't realize this. Wow.

Good.

 

[mickey2942]

I have been looking, haven't seen anything on James Sasser III hearing yesterday.

 

[Niner]

I have been looking, haven't seen anything on James Sasser III hearing yesterday.

Thanks for checking!

 

[Niner]

@Dave F. - can't recall (getting old here!) - but can you access the Gallatin County court site? Any updates on hearings?
Here's what I have:
Patricia Batts - next Omnibus hearing on 7/29

James Sasser III - had preliminary hearing on 7/7 - and am surprised we haven't heard anything since it was a preliminary hearing!!

James Sasser, Jr. - last was arraignment hearing on 6/25/20 - did he plead not guilty or ....

Madison Sasser - last arraignment hearing on 5/1/20 - any pleas?
and

Gage Roush - last was status hearing on 4/21/20.

?? TIA if you find some answers!

 

[Dave F.]

@Dave F. - can't recall (getting old here!) - but can you access the Gallatin County court site? Any updates on hearings?
Here's what I have:
Patricia Batts - next Omnibus hearing on 7/29

James Sasser III - had preliminary hearing on 7/7 - and am surprised we haven't heard anything since it was a preliminary hearing!!

James Sasser, Jr. - last was arraignment hearing on 6/25/20 - did he plead not guilty or ....

Madison Sasser - last arraignment hearing on 5/1/20 - any pleas?
and

Gage Roush - last was status hearing on 4/21/20.

?? TIA if you find some answers!

Right now, here's what I am thinking:

PB - Has pled not guilty. Still in Gallatin County Jail. Next Omnibus hearing is going to primarily be about potential for death penalty. Judge needs to have a good idea, so the trial can be run accordingly.

JS Sr - Has pled not guilty. Still in Gallatin County Jail.

JS Jr - Has pled Not Guilty. Next hearing is sometime in July, on his appeal of the trial status charging him as an adult.

MS - Has pled Not Guilty. Released on $50,000 bond and presumed to be living in Texas with her sister at this time.

GR - Has pled Not Guilty. Released on Bond with conditions to live with grandmother in West Yellowstone and work as a snowmobile mechanic.

The next scheduled hearing dates don't mean much at this step of the prosecution, which is why they aren't being reported. There is undoubtedly a lot of filing going on............much more than for similar cases in other states that I have seen. I call it the "jockeying for starting position" phase.

My personal opinion is that DS Jr's attorneys are going to fight hard for being handed down to the juvenile system. It's a hard fight, though and the odds are not in their favor.
MS has her own attorney......not a public defender. I think the "jockeying" for her is to try to be last one tried. She will be found guilty, but may get off with a very light sentence if she was established a lifestyle that fits the rule of "what is in the best interests of Montana". GR's attorneys can jockey him into a position where he will be found guilty, but may receive a very light sentence. He has to be fully on board, though; and I have the impression his grandma intends to impart some wisdom his way, in this regard, before his trial. I think that JS Sr a probably not super cooperative with his attorneys at this point, perhaps trying to wait it out to see what develops. If true, that could be a mistake for him. PB, is, in my opinion the star of the whole miserable show. The big questions are: "can Montana actually execute a woman (we never have) and, as I said early in this thread: "Does anyone in Montana remember HOW to execute someone?" or have we all forgotten?" The alternative, of course, is spending the rest of her life in the women's prison in Billings, where the main topic of discussion every day is how much the offenders miss their kids. It's generally just not looking good for PB, IMO

 

[Niner]

snipped by me....
JS Jr - Has pled Not Guilty. Next hearing is sometime in July, on his appeal of the trial status charging him as an adult.

Since I like to keep up with the hearings - do you know "what" date in July for this hearing? Or was that on July 7th that he just had? That was a preliminary hearing. Surprised we have not heard anything about that.
TIA!

 

[Dave F.]

Since I like to keep up with the hearings - do you know "what" date in July for this hearing? Or was that on July 7th that he just had? That was a preliminary hearing. Surprised we have not heard anything about that.
TIA!

There has not been a bit of news about it, that I have seen. Typically, the dates of these hearings get moved. There is a huge amount of paperwork, the logistics of moving him back and forth to Bozeman, and the difficulty of lawyer-client communication when he is in Billings, 144 miles away. He might be moved to the State Hospital at Warm Springs for mental evaluation, which usually takes at least three months.
Overall, the wheels of justice turn very slowly in Montana, but they do have a steady pace.
Trials for major crimes in Montana are actually two trials. The first presents the evidence for a guilty/innocent verdict, and then there is the sentencing hearing, which takes place a week or two after a guilty verdict and can take several days. The sentencing testimony can be way more dramatic than the trial itself. It seems to me that they have all been very fairly charged for what they have admitted doing, but the sentencing hearing will decide each fate. A lot of what goes on during this time is specifically aimed at that sentencing hearing, not the actual trial of the evidence. IMO

 

[heavenlee7]

Hope that fat meets his makers in prison.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, July 29th:
*Omnibus Hearing (@ am MT) – MT – James Alexander Hurley (12) (found Feb. 3, 2020 deceased in living room, West Yellowstone) - for *Patricia “Trish” Lynn Batts (48) aka Patricia Sasser & Patricia Rone (paternal grandmother) arrested (2/12/20 & charged (2/13/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with 1 count of felony deliberate homicide. Charged (3/5/20) & arraigned (3/24/20) with aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment & 1st degree strangulation. Plead not guilty to all charges. $750K bond. DA will seek DP.
James' info & Court info from 2/13/20 thru 3/24/20 reference post #888 here:
MT - James Hurley, 12, tortured/murdered, W. Yellowstone, Feb 2020 grandparents & 14 yo uncle arrest
5/8/20 Update: Prosecutor Bjorn Boyer has filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Batts, if she is convicted of deliberate homicide (the equivalent of first degree murder in other states). Omnibus hearing on 5/27. 5/27/20 Update: Defense attorney asked for more time. Judge rescheduled the Omnibus hearing to 7/29.
No update as of 7/9/20 for all below
*James Danny Sasser, Jr. (47) – Omnibus hearing on 6/25/20.
*James Danny Sasser III (14) – Hearing on 7/7/20.
*Gage Anthony Roush (18) – Status hearing on 4/21/20.
*Madison Sasser (18) – Arraignment hearing on 5/1/20.

 

[Niner]

Well shizzle - I can't access this article, even in Outline.

Could someone give a 10% synopsis on it - don't forget the court dates! TIA!

First trial date set in murder of 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy

 

[JerseyGirl]

Well shizzle - I can't access this article, even in Outline.

Could someone give a 10% synopsis on it - don't forget the court dates! TIA!

First trial date set in murder of 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy

Sure @Niner. And anytime you need something moved to trials, just send me a private message.

The reporter said that the all 4 had a hearing yesterday, but only Sasser Jr.'s was heard, the other 3 hearings were postponed.

At Sasser Jr.'s hearing yesterday, the judge set a 2 week trial in March 2021 (no exact date) for Sasser Jr.

 

[Niner]

@JerseyGirl - thanks for the info. Yesterday? I thought PB was on 7/29? I wish they would update that court site with the right dates....

Okay - updating my notes....

 

[JerseyGirl]

@JerseyGirl - thanks for the info. Yesterday? I thought PB was on 7/29? I wish they would update that court site with the right dates....

Okay - updating my notes....

Oh no, the PB was probably on 7/29, I was just referring to the post, thinking it was yesterday. Sorry

 

[Niner]

Oh no, the PB was probably on 7/29, I was just referring to the post, thinking it was yesterday. Sorry

Oh - so you mean EVERYONE was there on 7/29? not the 30th? Just want to get my notes straight here!

 

[mickey2942]

First trial date set in murder of 12-year-old West Yellowstone boy

Trial date set for March 29, 2021 for Sasser jr. This is the Step-grandfather of the victim. No trial date set for any of the other defendants.

From this article, they have not yet determined on the issue of trying Sassser III, age 14, as an adult or a juvenile at this time.

Interesting that a case this big was not reported in the Bozeman Chronicle.

 

[Luckyzmom]

Don't think the courts appreciate the attention this case has gotten from out of the area MOO