This week’s wrap up of local news from the last week.

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Project to preserve Union Bethel AME Church hits snags, but efforts continuing: The effort to preserve the historic Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Great Falls has hit a few snags in recent months, but those working on the project are hopeful it will continue moving forward. The city opted not to serve as the pass through for the federal funding and federal grant programs are in question, but the Montana State Historic Preservation Office and the church are continuing their work on the project.

AF scheduled to conduct ICBM test launch next week: The Air Force is scheduled to conduct an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile between 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Feb. 18 to 5:01 a.m. Pacific Time, Feb. 19, from north Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

Jail visitation paused as CCSO investigates drug smuggling incident: Inmate visitation at the Cascade County Adult Detention Center is suspended immediately, pending an investigation into a drug smuggling incident on Feb. 9 and repairs to the visitation area, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said during a Feb. 13 press conference. A member of the public entered the visitation area at the jail around 5:23 p.m. Feb. 9 and somehow made a small hole through the glass and was able to pass methamphetamine, fentanyl and suboxone strips to an inmate in the jail, he said.

Laslovich departs U.S. Attorney’s Office: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana said on Feb. 18 U. S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich’s “departure,” effective Feb. 17. Laslovich was nominated for the position by President Joe Biden in January 2022 and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2022, being sworn in on June 2, 2022.

Amato changes plea in sex trafficking case: James Amato appeared in court Feb. 18 in connection with a sex trafficking ring in Great Falls to enter an Alford plea. An Alford plea isn’t an admission of guilt but the defendant acknowledges there’s enough evidence to convict.

During a Feb. 18 court hearing, District Court Judge Elizabeth Best accepted Amato’s plea and set sentencing for April 1. In the plea agreement, Amato entered an Alford plea to felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and accountability for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

The plea agreement was used largely due to the victim’s unwillingness to cooperate or testify at trial out of fear and revictimization.