Judge denies accused stabber's bail reduction

State District Judge Daniel Boucher denied the motion to reduce bail Monday in District Court in Havre for Nevada St. Marks, a local man accused of stabbing someone multiple times in September.     

St. Marks, who is charged with attempted deliberate homicide and assault with a weapon and is listed in Hill County Detention Center on a $150,000 bond, told Boucher the main reason he wanted to be released was to care for his 3- and 1-year-old children, who he said are being neglected.

St. Marks' attorney, Steven Scott, gave Boucher letters from the mother of the children and the grandmother on the mother's side to support St. Marks' claim that his children need him.

Boucher and Hill County Attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson both read the letters. Cole-Hodgkinson opposed the letters being admitted as evidence because she said it was "hearsay upon hearsay."

Boucher allowed the letters to be admitted.

St. Marks told Boucher that, should bail be reduced, he would stay either with his brother in Havre or with his mother-in-law in Box Elder, and work for his former employer. St. Marks said he would be willing to go through frequent alcohol screenings and wear a GPS monitoring bracelet.

Cole-Hodgkinson told Boucher that, after St. Marks' arrest his cellphone was seized and in it were found messages indicating St. Marks had been involved with selling drugs.

"I don't know that he's any better a parent that she is," Cole-Hodgkinson said.

The judge denied his bail reduction.

"It's a serious charge," Boucher said. "I have nothing to convince me Mr. St. Marks can provide the service he says his children need."

Charging documents say officers responded to a bloody scene Sept. 18 after receiving a call that a man had been stabbed. Officers found "a large amount of blood" on the porch, in the living room and the kitchen of the residence, as well as a knife covered in blood.

A detective spoke with the man who was allegedly stabbed by St. Marks once the man's condition was stable. The man said St. Marks was upset because he "expressed his concern about (St. Marks) engaging in sexual contact with a juvenile girl," documents say.

The man said he planned on leaving and extended his hand, but St. Marks pushed it away, refusing to shake it.

The man said he went to take a drink and that was when St. Marks stabbed him in the armpit. He knew he'd been stabbed and would have to fight, documents say.

The man said he grabbed St. Marks and hit him with his head, and that was when St. Marks cut him on his chest, documents say. The man said St. Marks had also swiped at his face, trying to slash it.

Documents say the man had a stab wound under his armpit, a laceration on the inside of his left elbow and one on his chest. Medical providers told the detective the man had a collapsed lung and needed several units of blood to replace that which he'd lost.

More than two hours later, St. Marks was found walking on Old Post Road. Documents say St. Marks was "covered in blood."

He was arrested and taken to the Hill County Detention Center.