A Flathead County Prosecutor and an Attorney Central to the Thornton Land Case Later Joined the Montana AG’s Office — a Sequence Raising Questions

As court proceedings continue in the multiple open cases stemming from the land dispute involving Dennis Thornton, several concerning revelations have emerged. These developments warrant closer scrutiny and suggest greater depth and interconnection than previously understood in matters this outlet has reported on before.

NorthWest Liberty News has reported extensively on the long‑running land dispute between Montana landowner Dennis Thornton and Whitefish Credit Union, the state’s largest credit union, with the primary focus being on Flathead Valley. The scope of that reporting has now widened, reaching Helena with the involvement of Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office.

As would be expected in litigation spanning more than a decade, Dennis Thornton was represented at various points by multiple attorneys as he sought to defend his claimed ownership of property in Somers, Montana. Among those attorneys was Thane Johnson, a Kalispell‑based practitioner who represented Thornton during a portion of the protracted land dispute.

According to Thornton, he paid Johnson $5,000 to represent him in several related matters, including defending against a restraining order (covered in an upcoming article), responding to a criminal trespass charge, and pursuing a quiet title action. In the clipped image below, Johnson is identified as Thornton’s counsel in the upper left‑hand corner. Also of note is that Michael Noonan is copied on the correspondence, as reflected at the bottom of the document. Noonan’s role will be examined in the next segment.

Ultimately, Johnson took no substantive action on Thornton’s behalf. He filed no opposition to the restraining order, mounted no defense against the criminal trespass charge, and performed no work on the promised quiet title action. As a result, Thornton lost critical motions by default, outcomes that later had to be set aside. Although Johnson ultimately returned the $5,000 fee, the procedural and strategic damage had already been done.

Deceptive actions against Thornton by a Montana Bar attorney was nothing new, and was the main reason Thornton had to begin addressing his cases as a pro se litigant. The curious part of Johnson’s actions didn’t occur while he was Thornton’s attorney, but afterwards. According to his own sworn application materials, Thane Johnson joined the Montana Attorney General’s Office in January 2023, after leaving private practice, and after sabotaging the Thornton case

Michael Noonan and the Role of the Flathead County Prosecutor’s Office

Michael Noonan served as a Deputy County Attorney for Flathead County in 2022, when Dennis Thornton was charged with criminal trespass. Court filings allege that Noonan was directly involved in the prosecutorial decision‑making that led to the charge, and he is one of three Flathead County prosecutors named individually in Thornton’s $50 million federal civil‑rights lawsuit against the county.

Federal court records further show that Noonan played a central role in the charging decisions underlying the Thornton trespass case. The most consequential allegations of misconduct arising from that prosecution, including claims that the charge was pursued despite contrary evidence and law‑enforcement recommendations, are attributed primarily to actions taken by Noonan in his capacity as a county prosecutor.

Allegations of misconduct involving members of the Montana Bar are not new to the Thornton litigation. Over the course of his cases, Thornton has repeatedly found himself opposing attorneys who were judges, prosecutors, or defense counsel, an experience that has shaped his view of the process. What is particularly notable in the case of Michael Noonan is that, after his role as a Flathead County prosecutor in the trespass matter, he was also hired by the Montana Attorney General’s Office, where he now serves as an Assistant Attorney General with the Montana Department of Justice.

To recap, two Flathead County–based attorneys, one serving as defense counsel and the other as a county prosecutor, took actions that worked against Dennis Thornton’s efforts to regain control of property that public records indicate he owned. Both individuals were later hired by the Montana Attorney General’s Office following their respective roles in matters connected to the Thornton litigation, a sequence that raises legitimate questions given their prior positions and involvement.

Even as Thornton faced what he describes as a breakdown of institutional safeguards, spanning law enforcement inaction, questionable judicial rulings, and prosecutorial misconduct, he and a small circle of supporters persisted, driven by the belief that the truth of the record would eventually prevail.

Enter Montana AG Austin Knudsen

In the interest of full disclosure, this author was invited by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen to lunch in Helena shortly after he was elected. During that meeting, lunch was provided and the Thornton matter was discussed in detail, based on the information available at the time, to ensure the Attorney General was aware of the situation as it then stood.

Knudsen was sworn in on January 4, 2021, more than 5 years ago, and to date his office has failed to give Thornton any assistance, even after the Flathead County Sheriff requested it, as covered here.

This writer challenged Knudsen on a Facebook post a couple months ago asking why he hasn’t investigated the crime ring operating in Flathead Valley while linking to this article.

As outlined above, Knudsen asserted that the Montana Attorney General’s Office does not have jurisdiction or authority to investigate the issues raised. Multiple provisions of the Montana Code Annotated were cited in response, calling that conclusion into question, especially given the involvement of a regulated lending institution.

For transparency, the statutory citations below were identified with the assistance of AI‑based research tools and then confirmed against the Montana Code Annotated.

1. MCA § 2‑15‑501 — Attorney General as Chief Law Enforcement Officer

This statute establishes the AG’s overarching authority.

Key point:

The AG is the chief law enforcement officer of the state and can:

• Supervise criminal prosecutions
• Intervene when necessary to protect the interests of the state

This is the foundation for stepping in when a county attorney is compromised.

 2. MCA § 2‑15‑501(5) — AG May Assist or Take Over Prosecutions

This subsection explicitly allows the AG to:

 exercise supervisory powers over county attorneys in all matters pertaining to the duties of their offices and from time to time require of them reports as to the condition of public business entrusted to their charge. The supervisory powers granted to the attorney general by this subsection include the power to order and direct county attorneys in all matters pertaining to the duties of their office. The county attorney shall, when ordered or directed by the attorney general, promptly institute and diligently prosecute in the proper court and in the name of the state of Montana any criminal or civil action or special proceeding.

• Assist a county attorney
• Take charge of a prosecution
• Appear in any court in the state

This is the statutory basis for stepping in when a county attorney has a conflict of interest.

 3. MCA § 44‑2‑115 — AG May Investigate Official Misconduct

It authorizes the AG to investigate:

• Public corruption
• Official misconduct
• Criminal violations by public officials

If the Flathead County Attorney is implicated, this statute is directly triggered. If the Montana Banking Commissioner confirmed wrongdoing, this statute becomes highly relevant because it involves a state‑regulated financial matter.

 4. MCA § 2‑15‑501(6) — AG assistance or prosecution when required by public service

If a county attorney:

• Refuses to prosecute
• Fails to prosecute
• Is unable to prosecute

…the AG may step in and prosecute directly.

This is a statutory override of local authority.

 5. MCA § 45‑7‑401 — Official Misconduct

If the county attorney is involved in corruption, this is the criminal statute that applies.

The AG has jurisdiction to prosecute official misconduct, especially when:

• The misconduct affects state agencies
• The misconduct involves financial institutions regulated by the state

So Knudsen hasn’t investigate Noonan as called for by MCA § 44‑2‑115, he retains him as an Assistant Attorney General instead.

In conclusion, Montana law vests the Department of Justice, under the supervision of the Attorney General, with authority to investigate complex financial crimes and offenses against public administration, including corruption and official misconduct, as defined in Title 45, Chapter 7 of the MCA, and exercised through the Division of Criminal Investigation pursuant to Titles 2 and 44.

You can gain more knowledge about the Roles & Responsibilities of the Montana AG by clicking here.

The Frampton-Knudsen-Shield Arms Connection

One of the most prominently named individuals in the Thornton litigation is Whitefish attorney Sean Frampton, whose alleged conduct is the subject of a comprehensive investigative report by private investigator and officer of the court Kathy Wilson. The report outlines allegations that, if substantiated, carry significant legal implications. The full expert witness report can be accessed here.

Frampton was previously found liable for malicious prosecution in the case brought by Deanna McAtee and investigative materials further identify Frampton as a former member of the Board of Directors of Glacier Bank, which serviced Thornton’s loan prior to its transfer to Whitefish Credit Union. This overlap places Frampton in a position connected to the Thornton property well before the later disputes emerged.

In sworn testimony, Frampton acknowledged that he retained the deeds to Thornton’s property in his personal desk rather than transmitting them to the title company as required by the settlement agreement. That testimony further reflects that this fact was not disclosed until he was directly confronted about the disposition of the deeds, a fact which opposed earlier sworn testimony by Frampton.

In May 2022, Title Financial Specialty Services executed and recorded a quitclaim deed and Satisfaction of Mortgage in favor of Dennis Thornton. (The corresponding docs can be seen here and here.) Following that action, Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner contacted Sean Frampton to advise him of the resulting change in ownership status. Frampton later acknowledged this communication in testimony before the Office of Disciplinary Counsel during proceedings related to the McAtee case.

Following the Ahner notification, Frampton and Whitefish Credit Union CEO James Kenyon prepared and filed a document entitled “Corrected Release of Mortgage,” which purported to override the quitclaim deed and Satisfaction of Mortgage previously executed by Title Financial Specialty Services, the sole recorded power of attorney authorized to act on behalf of Whitefish Credit Union.

Despite the absence of any recorded authority authorizing Frampton or Kenyon to transfer or correct title, a “Corrected Release of Mortgage” was nevertheless prepared and recorded, notwithstanding that Title Financial Specialty Services remained the only entity of record with lawful authority to act for Whitefish Credit Union.

At this stage, a reasonable reader may be asking how Attorney General Knudsen connects to Frampton, and what role, if any, Shield Arms plays in this story. Those questions are both fair and necessary. What follows addresses them directly.

Shield Arms is a northwest Montana firearms manufacturer that originated from a business formed with the involvement of Michael A. Hebert, who later became a member of the company and affiliated entities. Hebert is presently involved in litigation with Shield Arms and its current owners, asserting that his intellectual property interests were improperly taken and that he was wrongfully removed from the business, claims that have been litigated in the Montana courts.

One of the current owners of Shield Arms is Seth Berglee, who has been publicly described as a longtime friend of Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

Public records show that Shield Arms has been represented in litigation by Frampton Purdy Law Firm. Public reporting also documents that Attorney General Austin Knudsen, as outlined, has longstanding ties to Shield Arms co‑owner Seth Berglee and has visited the company, including public-facing engagements connected to the firearms industry. Shield Arms itself has posted that Knudsen stopped by its booth at SHOT Show. These overlapping relationships do not prove wrongdoing; however, they do raise legitimate questions about whether the appearance of conflict should be addressed when the Attorney General’s Office declines involvement in matters that could foreseeably implicate attorneys associated with the firm representing a company within Knudsen’s public orbit.

This sequence is further complicated by the fact that a prosecutor and a Kalispell attorney involved in the Thornton matter later accepted positions within the Montana Attorney General’s Office. Those employment transitions occurred after decisions that, if sustained, would have materially benefited Whitefish Credit Union’s outside counsel, Sean Frampton. While post-employment career moves do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing, their timing adds to the appearance concerns already raised by overlapping professional relationships involving Frampton, Flathead County officials, and the Attorney General’s Office.

Taken individually, each of the events described above might be explained in isolation. Taken together, however, they present a pattern that warrants closer scrutiny. The record reflects a series of overlapping professional relationships involving Sean Frampton; prosecutorial decisions taken in the Thornton matter; subsequent employment transitions into the Attorney General’s Office; and the Attorney General’s own documented personal and political ties to a business represented by Frampton’s firm. None of these facts, standing alone, establishes misconduct. But their convergence raises legitimate questions about the appearance of undue influence, conflicts of interest, and the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in Flathead County and beyond.

The issue is not whether wrongdoing has been conclusively proven, but whether public confidence in the independence of Montana’s justice system has been compromised by the absence of independent review. When alleged misconduct involves actors who occupy overlapping legal, political, and professional spheres, and when those same actors benefit from decisions not to investigate, the standard response is transparency and external oversight, not silence.

At minimum, the circumstances outlined here justify an inquiry by an authority wholly removed from the relationships at issue. Anything less risks reinforcing the perception that justice in the Flathead Valley depends not solely on law and fact, but on who knows whom.

The post Exclusive: Suspicious Hirings and Failure to Act Raise Questions About Montana AG Knudsen’s Connections to Flathead County Prosecutions appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

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The Only Substantive Investigation, Conducted by the Sheriff, Was Ignored by Prosecutors

(Kalispell, MT) — Newly disclosed discovery filings contain striking admissions in the case of property owner Dennis Thornton v. Flathead County and three county prosecutors, now pending in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. The case arises from the decision to charge Thornton with criminal trespass on property he claims, and public records indicate, he owned.

In a written opinion, U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy stated that the allegations plausibly suggest defendant Travis Ahner engaged in investigative conduct outside the scope of prosecutorial immunity, including the alleged creation or use of falsified evidence, claims the court determined warrant further litigation. This matter has been previously reported by this outlet here, here, here, and here.

Thornton’s legal difficulties can be traced to a 2018 revival of a civil case involving him and his company, Thorco, Inc., after the matter had been dismissed with prejudice in 2016. The case was reopened by District Court Judge Dan Wilson, now a candidate for the Montana Supreme Court.

Wilson, who presided over key rulings affecting the disputed property, remains central to the ongoing controversy. This news outlet contends that subsequent decisions by Wilson have favored the defense and continue to prevent Thornton from fully exercising control over the property, despite court records and recorded instruments that he argues establish his ownership.

Click the links below to review the previous articles posted by NorthWest Liberty News regarding Judge Dan Wilson:

Judge Dan Wilson’s Supreme Court Test

Judgment Day for Dan Wilson: Supreme Court or Public Disgrace

Montana Court Showdown: Will Judge Wilson Enforce the Law or Let Misconduct Slide?

Dan Wilson’s Supreme Court Run — Are Voters Getting Substance or Rhetoric?

Unfit for Service: Supreme Court Hopeful Dan Wilson Fails Supreme Court Test

The genesis of the Thornton case may have originated with Wilson, but the case which is the subject of this article is now in Federal District Court being overseen by Judge Donald Molloy.

As many readers may already know, one of the legal processes that precedes a trial is discovery, during which both the plaintiff and the defense may request information and documents from one another. This process helps frame the issues for trial and allows each side to develop and evaluate its legal defenses.

To provide readers with a clearer understanding of the key issues being disputed in this case, links to the interrogatories propounded by both the plaintiff and the defendants are included below.

Link to Plaintiff Interrogatories click here

Link to Defendant’s Interrogatories click here

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One of the cores of this case is Request for Admission No. 20 in the defendants’ discovery responses, which contains the following question and answer:

Question (Plaintiff):

Admit that Defendants did not conduct an investigation prior to and independent of the charging decision and subsequent prosecution.

Answer (Defendants):

Admitted.

The above question and answer show that Flathead County prosecutors formally admitted, in sworn discovery responses, that they did not conduct any investigation prior to or independent of the decision to charge and prosecute Thornton for criminal trespass.

The significance of this case does not rest on allegations or opinions, but on what appears in sworn court filings. Readers are encouraged to review the discovery materials themselves and draw their own conclusions. At a time when transparency in the justice system is more important than ever, the disclosures in this case underscore why public access to court records matters.

The post Exclusive: Flathead County Admits It Conducted No Independent Investigation Before Charging Property Owner With Trespass appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

Judge Dan Wilson Had a Choice… He Chose the Crime Ring Over the Constitution

In stunning contrast to his stated Montana Supreme Court platform, Flathead County District Court Judge Dan Wilson has once again demonstrated a blatant disregard, if not outright contempt, for the Montana Constitution — a pattern of judicial conduct that stretches back to at least 2018.

Less than a month ago, Wilson filed paperwork with the Montana Secretary of State, officially placing himself on the ballot for this year’s election cycle. Shortly thereafter, Wilson posted on his Facebook page outlining his judicial platform; the very platform that makes his conduct in the courtroom all the more troubling. You can read NWLNews prior coverage of Wilson’s candidacy by clicking here.

For foundational purposes, which will become abundantly clear as this article progresses, here is Wilson’s stated platform:

Today, I officially filed for office. My commitment to Montanans is clear: I will uphold our laws as written, protect the Constitution, and ensure our courts remain places of impartial justice , not judicial activism. I will always defend the rights of all Montanans and deliver fair decisions that serve the people, not political agendas. – Flathead District Judge Dan Wilson

Ironically, before Wilson could make a legitimate run for Supreme Court Justice, he has already failed a Montana landowner who has been displaced from his property since 2018, the direct result of a Wilson ruling that improperly overturned a 2016 case which had been dismissed with prejudice. NWLNews covered that ruling extensively, linked here.

The plaintiffs in the case before Wilson, Dennis and Donna Thornton, have been struggling to recover use of their 500-plus acre property in Somers, Montana for nearly eight years. On February 19, 2026, the Thorntons filed an Emergency Motion for Default Summary Judgment, grounded in unchallenged legal precedent and backed by sworn testimony from multiple sources, including WCU’s own admissions in federal court.

The material facts are as follows. WCU’s opposition was rendered legally void on four independent grounds, with WCU’s own admissions confirming the debt never existed, and with seven Montana Supreme Court cases saying Rule 2(b) gives a judge zero discretion when the opposing party misses a court-ordered deadline — Wilson had one legally correct move: grant the motion, vacate his 2018 judgment, impose $50,000 in sanctions against WCU and its counsel, and strike all WCU filings from the record.

Wilson’s ruling was supposed to be rendered by March 11, 2026.

Here are the legal reasons, spelled out, why any opposition by WCU is legally dead:

First: WCU’s out-of-state attorney Meagan VanderWeele was admitted pro hac vice (permission to practice in Montana for one case) through a fraudulent application that concealed she had already appeared in at least seven prior Montana cases, which far exceeding the two-appearance limit under Montana bar rules. Her admission was improper, making all her filings nullities.

Second: WCU’s substitution of counsel was legally void because they failed to provide written notice to the pro se Thorntons as required by Montana statute § 37-61-404. A void substitution means all subsequent filings by new counsel are also void.

Third: All subsequent WCU filings systematically failed to serve co-plaintiff Donna Thornton, used deliberately defective mailings, and filed false certificates of service, which violated Montana Rules of Civil Procedure 5(a)(1).

Fourth — and most devastating: Wilson ordered WCU to file an answer brief by November 23, 2025. WCU filed nothing. Not a brief, not a motion for extension, not even a communication to the court. Under Montana Uniform District Court Rule 2(b), this failure is an automatic, irrevocable admission that the Thorntons’ motion to vacate is well-taken and must be granted. The documents cite seven Montana Supreme Court cases establishing this rule is self-executing with zero judicial discretion.

To make matters worse, WCU apparently filed a backdated “response” on November 25, two days late, which the clerk backdated to November 21 in the record. The documents call this record tampering and cite State v. Burns (2011) for the proposition that altered records are voided.

With Wilson having improperly reinstated a case in 2018 that had been dismissed with prejudice, and now in 2026 demonstrating a willful disregard for both the Montana Constitution and binding Montana Supreme Court precedent, two conclusions are becoming painfully apparent: Dan Wilson is still actively protecting his associates in the Flathead County Crime Ring, and Wilson is not fit to judge a pie-eating contest, let alone occupy a seat on Montana’s highest court.

The post Unfit for Service: Supreme Court Hopeful Dan Wilson Fails Supreme Court Test appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

Judge Dan Wilson has laid out his Supreme Court platform, but will he apply it in the Dennis Thornton case or turn a blind eye to lawlessness?

Flathead County District Judge Dan Wilson traveled to Helena last week to file for his second run for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court, this time facing fellow Flathead District Court Judge Amy Eddy.

Wilson celebrated his filing with a Facebook post featuring Secretary of State Christy Jacobsen and a platform summary; but whether those platform promises hold up as he faces Judge Amy Eddy remains to be seen. Wilson’s post can be viewed below.

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For those of you in back, here is Dan Wilson’s stated campaign platform for Montana Supreme Court:

Today, I officially filed for office. My commitment to Montanans is clear: I will uphold our laws as written, protect the Constitution, and ensure our courts remain places of impartial justice — not judicial activism. I will always defend the rights of all Montanans and deliver fair decisions that serve the people, not political agendas. – Flathead District Judge Dan Wilson

If Wilson’s words are true, they would be nothing short of revolutionary at a time when many courts no longer uphold the law as written, fail to protect the Constitution, and increasingly engage in judicial activism.

Fortunately for Montana voters, they won’t have to wait until 2027 to see whether Wilson’s claims hold up, as the Dennis and Donna Thornton case will soon serve as his first real Supreme Court test.

Earlier this month, NorthWest Liberty News published an article detailing multiple Montana Code violations allegedly committed by the law firm representing Whitefish Credit Union in the Thorntons’ effort to recover their land.

Let us now review the allegations outlined in that article in light of Wilson’s recent campaign promises, as he is the judge currently considering those allegations based on the evidence submitted by Dennis and Donna Thornton.

To recap, Wilson promises to:

1. Uphold our laws as written

2. Protect the Constitution

3. Ensure our courts remain places of impartial justice

4. Defend the rights of all Montanans

5. Deliver fair decisions that serve the people, not political agendas

I have condensed a portion of the article linked above and paired it with Judge Wilson’s recent campaign promises so that the average voter can more clearly assess the credibility of his statements once he rules on the Thornton case.

Overall, Judge Wilson’s decision to vacate the 2018 judgment against the Thorntons should be, by most standards, a straightforward one. Current state law and supreme court precedent clearly require a ruling in the plaintiffs’ favor. In fact, Judge Wilson is legally mandated, not merely permitted, to grant the requested relief. Montana law leaves no discretion in the face of these violations.

The following is a bullet point and summary of the procedures the Plaintiffs claim that Whitefish Credit Union Attorney(s) violated:

• Material omissions in pro hac vice application:
  Concealed at least seven prior firm appearances and substantial ongoing practice in Montana federal courts, violating Section VI(C) of the Rules for Admission to the Bar of Montana and Montana Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 3.3(a)(1), 8.4(c).
• Unauthorized practice of law:
  Exceeded the two-appearance limit for pro hac vice admission without showing good cause and engaged in substantial Montana practice without full admission.
• Statutorily void substitution of counsel:
  Failed to provide written notice to adverse pro se parties as required by §37-61-404, MCA, rendering the substitution ineffective and all subsequent filings nullities.
• Systematic non-service and defective service:
  Omitted Donna Thornton from certificates of service, addressed mailings solely to Dennis Thornton, used insufficient postage, and falsely certified compliance, violating M.R.Civ.P. 5(a)(1), MRPC 3.4(c), 8.4(d), and Article II, Section 17 of the Montana Constitution.
• Deliberate denial of due process:
  Prevented Donna Thornton from receiving notice, objecting to counsel’s appearance, or participating meaningfully, violating constitutional rights.
• False statements and dishonesty to the tribunal:
  Knowingly made false statements by omission and certification, violating MRPC 3.3(a)(1), 8.4(c).
• Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice: Manipulated judicial process to gain unfair advantage, violating MRPC 8.4(d)

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Legal Verification: Is Judge Wilson Mandated to Grant Relief?

Montana law and precedent are clear:

• Section VI(C) of the Rules for Admission to the Bar of Montana strictly limits pro hac vice appearances; violations mandate revocation.

Wilson Promise # 1: Uphold our laws as written

• §37-61-404, MCA, requires written notice for substitution of counsel; non-compliance renders substitution void.

Wilson Promise # 1: Uphold our laws as written

• M.R.Civ.P. 5(a)(1) and Article II, Section 17 of the Montana Constitution mandate service and due process; violations require striking filings and vacatur.

Wilson Promise # 2: Protect the Constitution

• MRPC 3.3(a)(1), 3.4(c), 8.4(c), 8.4(d) mandate candor, honesty, and fairness; violations require disciplinary referral.

Wilson Promise # 3: Ensure our courts remain places of impartial justice. **Ed note:  Do attorneys who lie face equal punishment?

• Precedents (Essex Ins. Co. v. Moose’s Saloon, Inc., Baltrusch v. Baltrusch, In re Marriage of Broere) confirm that courts must vacate void judgments and strictly enforce procedural rules.

Wilson Promise # 2: Protect the Constitution

The law firm that is acting in blatant disregard for Montana Law and Supreme Court precedent is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Wilson Promise # 4: Defend the rights of all Montanans

Whether Dan Wilson ultimately reaches the Montana Supreme Court is a decision that rests with the voters. What Wilson can decide, win or lose, is whether he conducts himself as a man of honor in the Thornton case or proves to be just another empty suit who delivers rhetoric when it serves his own interests.

The post Dan Wilson’s Supreme Court Run — Are Voters Getting Substance or Rhetoric? appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

When Prosecutors Break the Law, Taxpayers Shouldn’t Foot the Bill

As previously reported by this news outlet (see coverage here, here, and here), Flathead County Prosecutor Travis Ahner, Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Frechette, and former Assistant Flathead County Prosecutor Michael Noonan (now serving as an Assistant Prosecutor for Attorney General Austin Knudsen) are facing enough evidence to warrant a jury trial over allegations that they knowingly used false information in an attempt to incarcerate a Montana landowner.

In light of recent events, it may not surprise many that those we elect and appoint to uphold the law could be accused of violating it themselves. What might surprise the taxpayers of Flathead Valley, however, is that your tax dollars are currently being used to fund the legal defense of those very same officials, which violates Montana law.

Montana Code clearly prohibits Flathead County, or in Noonan’s case the State of Montana, from funding any of the defendants legal defenses.

Montana Code Annotated § 2-9-305(6):
Prohibits a governmental entity from defending or indemnifying an employee whose conduct was outside the course and scope of employment, constituted malice, fraud, or intentional wrongdoing, or otherwise removed the employee from statutory protection.

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The bottom line: The federal lawsuit against Flathead County and Ahner has survived two motions to dismiss, with the court finding the allegations plausible and legally sufficient. The nature of the allegations triggers the statutory prohibition, regardless of final conviction.

And that’s not all. As far as Flathead County goes, both Ahner and Frechette have proven themselves to be a liability to the taxpayer as their actions have triggered a $50 million lawsuit that a) wasn’t reduced in amount by a federal judge and b) was allowed to go through based upon prosecutorial malfeasance. Ahner and Frechette are still practicing law for Flathead County and based upon the Thorco case, could be falsifying evidence this very day and opening up the Flathead taxpayer to even more liability.

In light of the ongoing liability facing taxpayers in Flathead County, and every taxpayer in Montana, all three defendants should be suspended until the jury trial scheduled for June 15 of this year is complete.

Here are the facts to support a suspension of all three defendants:

–Defendants knowingly charged a citizen with a crime despite exculpatory evidence.

–Ignored the Sheriff’s directive not to prosecute.

–Withheld proof of property ownership for over a year.

–Acted with malice and reckless disregard for constitutional rights.

–Taxpayer-funded defense is ongoing, in violation of Montana law.

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To help protect the integrity of Montana’s legal system, we have prepared the necessary documents for anyone in Flathead Valley, or across the state, to file a formal complaint. These documents are designed to both stop the funding of the legal defense for the named defendants and to request their suspension until trial.

Click the links below to download the respective complaint letters:

Letter for Ahner

Letter for Frechette

Letter for Noonan

Flathead County cannot afford to ignore Montana law or risk further liability. The ongoing defense of the defendants with public funds is unlawful and exposes taxpayers to catastrophic financial risk. Flathead Valley men and women should urge the County Commissioners to act immediately to protect the county, uphold the law, and restore public trust.

The post How Many Millions Will You Pay? Ahner’s Legal Gamble Puts Flathead Taxpayer on the Hook appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

Judicial Integrity on Trial as Plaintiffs Seek Emergency Judgment Against Out-of-State Attorneys

(Kalispell, MT) – Supreme Court candidate, and current Flathead County District Judge, Dan Wilson has, once again, been put into a position which will signal to potential voters if he is worthy of their vote this November when Wilson faces fellow Flathead District Judge Amy Eddy to secure a seat in Montana’s Supreme Court.

The current spotlight on Judge Wilson stems from a pair of motions filed yesterday (Feb. 10) by Plaintiffs Dennis and Donna Thornton (see below); motions that threaten to destabilize the opposing party’s case much like pulling the bottom block from a Jenga tower.

Motion to Revoke Pro Hac Vice status of Chicago Attorney for Whitefish Credit Union

Click Image

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Emergency Motion to Vacate Judgement on 2018 Case

Click Image

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Overall, Judge Wilson’s decision to vacate the 2018 judgment against the Thorntons should be, by most standards, a straightforward one. Current state law and supreme court precedent clearly require a ruling in the plaintiffs’ favor. In fact, Judge Wilson is legally mandated, not merely permitted, to grant the requested relief. Montana law leaves no discretion in the face of these violations.

The following is a bullet point and summary of the procedures the Plaintiffs claim that Whitefish Credit Union Attorney(s) violated:

• Material omissions in pro hac vice application:
  Concealed at least seven prior firm appearances and substantial ongoing practice in Montana federal courts, violating Section VI(C) of the Rules for Admission to the Bar of Montana and Montana Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 3.3(a)(1), 8.4(c).
• Unauthorized practice of law:
  Exceeded the two-appearance limit for pro hac vice admission without showing good cause, and engaged in substantial Montana practice without full admission.
• Statutorily void substitution of counsel:
  Failed to provide written notice to adverse pro se parties as required by §37-61-404, MCA, rendering the substitution ineffective and all subsequent filings nullities.
• Systematic non-service and defective service:
  Omitted Donna Thornton from certificates of service, addressed mailings solely to Dennis Thornton, used insufficient postage, and falsely certified compliance, violating M.R.Civ.P. 5(a)(1), MRPC 3.4(c), 8.4(d), and Article II, Section 17 of the Montana Constitution.
• Deliberate denial of due process:
  Prevented Donna Thornton from receiving notice, objecting to counsel’s appearance, or participating meaningfully, violating constitutional rights.
• False statements and dishonesty to the tribunal:
  Knowingly made false statements by omission and certification, violating MRPC 3.3(a)(1), 8.4(c).
• Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice: Manipulated judicial process to gain unfair advantage, violating MRPC 8.4(d)

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Below are the remedies requested by the Thorntons:

• Revocation of pro hac vice admission for Whitefish Credit Union Attorney Meagan P. VanderWeele
• Disqualification of counsel and her firm from further participation
• Striking all filings submitted by or on behalf of Meagan P. VanderWeele
• Referral for disciplinary investigation to the Montana Office of Disciplinary Counsel and notice to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission for reciprocal discipline
• Immediate grant of uncontested motion to vacate judgment (October 10, 2018 Judgment) as void and obtained by fraud
• Evidentiary hearing if necessary to determine scope of additional equitable relief
• Restoration of procedural integrity and protection of pro se litigants’ rights

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Legal Verification: Is Judge Wilson Mandated to Grant Relief?

Based on the factual allegations and cited authorities:

• Montana law and precedent are clear:
  • Section VI(C) of the Rules for Admission to the Bar of Montana strictly limits pro hac vice appearances; violations mandate revocation.
  • §37-61-404, MCA, requires written notice for substitution of counsel; non-compliance renders substitution void.
  • M.R.Civ.P. 5(a)(1) and Article II, Section 17 of the Montana Constitution mandate service and due process; violations require striking filings and vacatur.
  • MRPC 3.3(a)(1), 3.4(c), 8.4(c), 8.4(d) mandate candor, honesty, and fairness; violations require disciplinary referral.
  • Precedents (Essex Ins. Co. v. Moose’s Saloon, Inc., Baltrusch v. Baltrusch, In re Marriage of Broere) confirm that courts must vacate void judgments and strictly enforce procedural rules.

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Summary: Judge Dan Wilson has the opportunity to finally end the Thornton family’s years‑long ordeal as they have spent nearly a decade trying to reclaim their stolen property.

Conclusion:
If the facts are as alleged and uncontested, Judge Wilson is legally mandated, not merely permitted, to grant the requested relief. Montana law leaves no discretion in the face of these violations.

The post Montana Court Showdown: Will Judge Wilson Enforce the Law or Let Misconduct Slide? appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

(Kalispell, MT)-Embattled landowner Dennis Thornton scored a decisive victory in his ongoing effort to reclaim his stolen property—a saga extensively covered by this news outlet at creditunioncrimes.com. Late last month, a federal judge denied, for the second time, Flathead County’s motion to dismiss Thornton’s $50 million lawsuit against them, as only the most explosive allegation survived.

The suit targets County Prosecutor Travis Ahner, who is being sued both professionally and personally, and other county agents, alleging they “knowingly submitted and relied on false certifications and legal claims” regarding property ownership, in violation of federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1018); then attempted to imprison Thornton on trespassing charges.

This means the judge found enough factual basis to allow the case to proceed on the allegation that county officials may have intentionally misrepresented ownership records in legal filings.

You can review the motion filed by Thornton by clicking the image below

In summary, Thornton sued because Flathead County officials pressed criminal charges for trespassing even though the sheriff advised against it and official records proved Thornton owned the property. The lawsuit alleges that county officials knowingly relied on false information to support the prosecution.

As expected, after the judge denied Flathead County’s motion to dismiss for a second time, a trial date was set for June 15, 2026. You can review the scheduling order by clicking the image below.

If, through civil proceedings, it is established that Ahner and other County officials knowingly submitted false information in an attempt to have Thornton jailed, it could expose those officials to federal criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1018. The maximum penalty is up to one year in prison and/or a fine.

In summary, if you’re like any normal American, even the suspicion that officials knowingly submitted false information in the Thornton case naturally raises the question: Have Ahner and his associates ever done this to anyone else before?

The post Flathead County Faces Trial Over Alleged Scheme to Jail Landowner with False Claims appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

(Kalispell, MT) — Stunning new allegations substantiate what this news outlet has been reporting all along: an active and ongoing organized crime ring is operating in Flathead Valley, Montana, targeting unsuspecting residents by unlawfully seizing their properties and businesses.

As previously promised, the allegations of fraud and corruption against U.S. Trustee Christy Brandon are finally coming to light—and the fallout could have sweeping implications for the integrity of the U.S. Trustee Program in Montana and across the nation.

Below is a brief summary of the Thornton case, along with a breakdown of the alleged crimes committed by Trustee Christy Brandon, her potential prison sentence if found guilty, and the professional consequences of the numerous offenses she is accused of committing.

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Case Background: THORCO INC. Bankruptcy (9:22-bk-90119-WLH)

• Debtor: THORCO INC., a Montana-based corporation
• Petition Date: July 29, 2022
• Conversion to Chapter 7: November 16, 2023
• Trustee Appointed: Christy L. Brandon (January 10, 2024)
• Movant: Dennis Thornton (Pro Se), equity holder and party in interest

Thorco’s bankruptcy was initiated despite the company’s alleged solvency and absence of legitimate unsecured creditors. Trustee Christy Brandon allegedly operated the business post-conversion without court authorization, using Chapter 11 reporting forms in a Chapter 7 case to justify fees and expenses.

The recently filed document with Thornton’s objection and criminal allegations can be accessed here.

Alleged Criminal Acts by Trustee Christy Brandon

How Exhibits A & B Support the Allegations

Exhibit A – Trustee Compensation Application

• Claims $47,259.60 in fees and $905.03 in expenses based on $880,191.99 disbursed.
• Movant alleges these disbursements were manufactured through unauthorized operations to inflate the § 326(a) fee base.

You can access Exhibit A by clicking this link.

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Exhibit B – Expense Worksheet

• Lists routine overhead (copies, postage, MT SOS search fees) without itemized justification.
• Movant argues these fail Rule 2016’s detail requirement and do not benefit creditors.

You can access Exhibit B by clicking this link.

Together, the exhibits show:

• Pattern of inflated billing
• Use of Chapter 11 forms in a Chapter 7 case
• Lack of creditor benefit
• Misleading representations to the court

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Potential Prison Time if Prosecuted

Estimated Exposure:
If multiple counts are charged and stacked, Brandon could face 10–20 years depending on prosecutorial discretion, plea negotiations, and sentencing guidelines.

Career Ramifications if Found Guilty

• Immediate removal as Chapter 7 Trustee under 11 U.S.C. § 324(a)
• Disqualification from future fiduciary appointments
• Loss of law license (subject to Montana Bar disciplinary proceedings)
• Disgorgement of all fees under §§ 328(c), 330, and Rule 2017
• Referral to DOJ and U.S. Trustee for criminal investigation
• Reputational collapse in Montana legal and bankruptcy circles

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Legal Precedents Cited

• Park-Helena Corp. (9th Cir. 1995): Denial of all fees for nondisclosure
• AFI Holding (9th Cir. 2008): Trustee removal for breach of fiduciary duty
• Castillo (9th Cir. 2002): No immunity for self-dealing or ultra vires conduct
• Hale v. U.S. Trustee (9th Cir. 2007): Sanctions for bad-faith fee filings
• Nakhuda (9th BAP 2015): Strict limits on business operation in Chapter 7

Strategic Framing for Outreach

This case is a forensic blueprint for exposing bankruptcy abuse. It challenges the integrity of fiduciary appointments and demands accountability for judicial officers who allegedly exploit solvent estates. If proven, it could reshape trustee oversight across Montana and beyond.

The post Bankruptcy for Profit: Allegations Surface That Montana Trustee Turned Solvent Estate into Personal Payday appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.

Today marks a pivotal moment for Flathead County District Judge Dan Wilson. As a candidate for the upcoming Montana Supreme Court vacancy, Wilson begins a process that will either expose him as another spoke in the wheel of corruption—or reveal him as a viable challenger who recognized his mistake and corrected it.

As previously reported by this outlet, Kalispell businessman Dennis Thornton recently filed a motion in Judge Dan Wilson’s court to vacate Wilson’s 2018 judgment against him. The motion cites a voluminous body of evidence showing that Thornton’s mortgage was fully satisfied in a 2016 ruling in his favor, with prejudice, which means Wilson should never have reopened the case in the first place.

For Wilson, the Thornton case is a proverbial “fork in the road,” as WCU, nor their attorneys, answered Thornton’s complaint in the required time. The inaction by the defendant to answer Thornton’s complaint gives him a win by default, and positions Wilson to have no choice, under law, but to sign Thornton’s Motion for Default Unopposed Judgement.

Under Rules 55(a) and (b)(2), default judgment must be entered as a matter of law. The Court may deem all allegations in the Motion to Vacate admitted. See Brilz v. Metropolitan Gen. Ins. Co., 2012 MT 184, ¶ 22, 366 Mont. 78, 285 P.3d 494.

You can view a copy of the most recent Motion for Default Unopposed Judgement by clicking here.

As a side note, if Judge Wilson declines to recognize Thornton’s motion or marshals any form of resistance, it will undoubtedly be yet another attempt to shield his close associate, Sean Frampton, who faces multiple long prison sentences if the crimes he’s allegedly committed are ever prosecuted.

The ball is in your court Judge Wilson. Will you stand for law and order, or are you just another crook in a robe?

The post Judgment Day for Dan Wilson: Supreme Court or Public Disgrace appeared first on NorthWest Liberty News.