James Ogden appeared in court on Sept. 24 on felony charges of obstruction and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence for his role in an incident with his brother Lloyde Ogden, Jr., a corrections officer at the Cascade County Adult Detention Center.

James Ogden is being held in the Broadwater County jail.

His trial is currently set for Jan. 26 and his bond was initially set for $100,000.

His defense attorney asked the court to reduce his bail to $5,000 since it was his first felony and he wasn’t a flight risk.

Second detention officer arrested on domestic violence charge

The Cascade County Attorney’s Office didn’t object to lowering the bond, but with the caveat that he not discuss the case with his brother, other family members or witnesses.

Judge Dave Grubich granted bail at $5,000.

James Ogden’s charges stem from an early morning incident on Aug. 17 when deputies were dispatched to 1015 4th Ave. S. for a report that Lloyde Paul Ogden, Jr. was threatening suicide, on several behavioral health medications, was drinking and had retrieved his handgun.

Ogden, Jr. was charged with felony assault with a weapon and misdemeanor partner family member assault.

He’s no longer employed by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.

CCSO detention officer charged in weekend incident

On Sept. 26, the Cascade County Attorney’s Office filed additional charges against Ogden Jr. of felony counts of assault with a weapon (solicitation), tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and assault with a weapon; and a misdemeanor PFMA second offense.

According to the updated charging documents, CCSO responded to 1015 4th Ave. S. around 3 a.m. Aug. 17 for reports that Ogden Jr. had a gun and was threatening suicide. His wife told responders that he was on several behavioral health medications, drinking, made suicidal comments then retrieved his handgun.

She told responders that she attempted to take the gun away and their three children were in the house, but he kicked her in the knee and stomach, pointed the gun at her several times and said, “if you try to take the gun again, I’m gonna shoot you and kill myself,” according to court documents.

County officials begin discussion of jail funding model

After 911 was called and deputies were on scene, Ogden Jr. fled the scene with his brother to 1406 5th Ave. N., James Ogden’s residence, with the gun used in the August incident.

Ogden Jr.’s wife was later interviewed at CCSO and told officers about what had occured in June when officers previously responded to reports of him being suicidal as well as the Aug. 17 incident. Further details of those incidents are included in the new charging documents filed on Sept. 26. No charges had initially been filed in the June incident.

His wife told investigators that in June, Ogden, Jr., had discovered she’d “cheated” and became angry, taking her phone and keys, leaving the residence but later returning and questioning her throughout the night into the early morning, slapping her in the face about seven times if he didn’t like her responses. He was also destructive in the residence.

She told investigators that during the day, Ogden, Jr. told her to remove her clothes because he wanted to see a bruise and when she complied, he dragged her by the wrists through the house outside to gravel where cars were parked, calling her “trash,” according to court documents. She went back inside, got dressed and they eventually had makeup sex, so she believed everything was okay, according to court documents, but the next morning, Ogden, Jr. slapped her again, made her say goodbye to her children and kicked her out of the residence. Later, he called telling her to return because he couldn’t handle their three children.

Honduran who was in U.S. illegally sentenced to prison, been held in Cascade County jail for months

When she returned, Ogden, Jr. yelled at her again, left the residence with a gun, then returned and ejected an unfired cartridge from the gun, removed the magazine, handed it to their 5-year-old daughter, instructing her to point it at her mother and pull the trigger, according to court documents.

The girl attempted to pull the trigger because Ogden, Jr. told her to but said she didn’t want to and was scared, saying that’s not what the gun was used for. When she started crying, Ogden, Jr. took the gun back, according to court documents.

During the June incident, the wife told investigators that Ogden, Jr. called her names and she wrote in her application for an order of protection, “he then took the gun back and reloaded it when he followed me to the kitchen and backed me into a corner, put the gun my face and told me I wasn’t safe.”

She told investigators that she gathered the children and put them in a vehicle, then reentered the home, seeing Ogden, Jr. writing what appeared to be a suicide note while taking multiple shots of Everclear while maintaining possession of the gun.

The wife texted a friend that he was about to commit suicide and she needed help. The friend called law enforcement for a faster response. The wife tried to get the gun, but he grabbed her arm, turned her around and put the gun at her back forcing her to walk toward the door.

Locals ask county not to cooperate with ICE; county jail has existing contract for federal holds

As she was exiting the residence at gunpoint, law enforcement was arriving and Ogden, Jr. went back inside, closing the door. The wife told officers that Ogden, Jr. was intoxicated and threatening suicide. The wife was directed to back her car out of the alley and she left with the children, attempting to file a parenting plan in court, but Ogden, Jr. called her repeatedly, according to court documents.

The wife spent the night in a hotel with their children and Ogden, Jr. called the next morning offering to leave the house so the children could return, promising no further violence and that he’d seek help, according to court documents.

Asked why she told officers in June that her injuries weren’t caused by Ogden, Jr., she said that she was trying to protect him because he’d said he was sorry, it wouldn’t happen again and she believed him. She told investigators that they had security cameras that captured some the June incident, but Ogden, Jr. had told her to delete the footage.

Ogden, Jr. saw the footage sometime between June 19 and when he left for treatment on June 27. He returned on Aug. 1 and they agreed on separate sleeping arrangements and to pursue divorce, which he waffled on afterward, according to court documents.

County officials continuing jail budget discussion, need for new model, possibility of ICE contract

On Aug. 16, Ogden, Jr. had a “rough day” and bought Twisted Tea, drank three and the wife drank one, according to court documents. Shortly after midnight on Aug. 17, he wanted more to drink so his wife went to purchase something, with Ogden, Jr. taking a few shots when she returned and playing video games, yelling at her.

The wife “became fed up and went to lie down. [Ogden, Jr.] followed her stating ‘you don’t even care about me’
to which [the wife] started laughing because she was ‘over it’ and didn’t want to deal with it anymore. [Ogden, Jr.} then started crying and left the room to call his brother James,” according to court documents. At that point, the wife
heard the distinct sound of [Ogden, Jr.] cokcing the gun.”

The wife jumped out of bed, losing her phone in the process, and saw Ogden, Jr. with the gun pointed underneath his chin, crying and talking on his cell. She ran toward him and he ran outside as she followed screaming for help, according to court documents.

Their younger two children woke and saw portions of the incident, including Ogden, Jr. running through the house with the gun and kicking their mothers in the knee area and pushing her backward, according to charging documents. During the struggle, the wife told investigators that Ogden, Jr. had said he was going to shoot her and then himself, pointing it at her chest.

Woman charged for February jail drug smuggling

Their 5-year-old daughter was forensically interviewed and was initially reluctant to discuss details, but told investigators that Ogden, Jr. had “kicked [the wife] in the stomach and got her in the hospital” for a few days, according to court documents. The child initially said she didn’t see her father doing anything, but investigators told her she was safe, wouldn’t get in trouble and her father was in jail at the time, and she said that Ogden, Jr. had “tried to kill himself” and “did bad stuff to mommy.”

She told investigators that Ogden, Jr. had held the gun under his chin and said “goodbye world,” and that he had previously been “trying to make me shoot mommy,” according to court documents.

At the time the call was dispatched to the August incident, Great Falls Police officers were handling a fatal vehicle crash in the city limits and had requested CCSO to take calls within the city limits, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said.

Crime roundup: Standoff; corrections officer arrested; follow-up on May incidents [2023]

On scene, deputies gave commands over a bullhorn and phone communication was later established, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said in August.

Ogden briefly appeared at the door, but ignored deputies commands and went back inside.

His wife exited the house, provided additional information and was evaluated by medical personnel for minor injuries, Slaughter said.

Sometime after deputies arrived on scene, Odgen’s brother, James Ogden, picked him up and drove him to his house at 1406 5th Ave. N., later telling investigators that he “went and scooped him up.”

On the phone, Ogden told deputies a family member had picked him up and agreed to meet deputies at his brother’s house.

At that point, deputies entered Ogden’s home, the site of the initial call, to secure the three children. The firearm wasn’t located there, but a live pistol cartridge was recovered, Slaughter said.

County approves jail booking remodel contract change

Deputies located Lloyde Ogden at his brother’s house and James Ogden told deputies he was unaware of a missing firearm and that he’d need to speak with Lloyde before making any decisions after being advised that he could face criminal charges for concealing evidence, according to court documents filed in August.

A search warrant was executed at James Ogden’s property where the firearm was located in one of the vehicles, according to court documents.

Lloyde Ogden, Jr. is being held in the Chouteau County jail as he was a detention officer and supervisor in the Cascade County jail, Slaughter said in August.

Prosecutors requested a $250,000 bond for his initial court appearance on Aug. 18.

Jail visitation paused as CCSO investigates drug smuggling incident

Ogden, Jr. “presents a severe risk to himself or others based upon his conduct, mental health status and a high bond is necessary to protect the public, specifically the defendant’s wife and children, from serious bodily injury or death based upon his conduct, his flight from law enforcement and his willingness to use relatives to harbor him,” prosecutors wrote in their charging documents.

But through investigation the following morning, County Attorney Josh Racki said officials learned more about the Aug. 17 incident and earlier June incident that caused them to ask for a higher bond.

Judge John Parker set bond at $500,000 and Racki said in August his office would be adding more charges.

Racki told The Electric that Odgen Jr.’s wife and family members wouldn’t talk to investigators after the June incident. He said he sent officers twice to speak to the wife and she wouldn’t cooperate.

Prosecutors requested a $100,000 bond for James Ogden since he “actively attempted to deceive deputies during their investigation, harbored a fugitive, who was his brother, and concealed the firearm in a toolbox on his vehicle and presents a danger to the public based upon his willingness to harbor a wanted felon who was engaged in behaviors which represented serious concerns for personal safety for his brothers family,” according to court documents.

Counties, state grapple with mental health in criminal justice system as state hospital delays persist

Slaughter said of the June incident, “family members were evacuated to safety after reports of physical assault and threats with a handgun. Video evidence and witness accounts documented Ogden behaving aggressively while armed, and during subsequent phone conversations with a Sheriff’s Office co-worker, he admitted to assaulting a family member and threatening others. Ogden’s victims and witnesses refused to cooperate or provide statements to police.”

Ogden Jr. was not charged in the June incident, but during the investigation, voluntarily entered an inpatient treatment program in Florida from June 26 to Aug. 1.

Criminal case dismissed due to state hospital delays; other cases remain in limbo waiting for mental health evaluation, treatment

CCSO began an internal affairs investigation into Ogden Jr. on Aug. 5 and during an Aug. 12 interview, Slaughter said that Ogden Jr. gave conflicting statements about the June incident, admitting to policy violations but denying criminal conduct and multiple witnesses failed to appear for scheduled interviews.

“The escalating pattern of dangerous and criminal behavior exhibited by this employee represents a clear threat to public safety and a serious breach of the ethics every law enforcement officer takes,” Slaughter said. “No one is above the law, and we will not tolerate criminal conduct by our personnel under any circumstances.”

Ogden Jr. was hired by CCSO in July 2021 and was on paid administrative leave since the June incident. On Aug. 18, he was on unpaid administrative leave while going through the process outlined in the detention officers collective bargaining agreement.

Slaughter said Ogden Jr. had not been serving in any capacity for the sheriff’s office while on leave from the June incident.

Slaughter said he wasn’t aware of any other incidents or issues involving Ogden prior to the June incident.

He said that the hiring and vetting process has changed since 2021 and that CCSO is continuing to improve that process.