Woman charged in case of fugitive

A Whitefish woman has been charged with obstructing justice for allegedly harboring a Louisiana fugitive.

Victoria Lemarr, 34, was arrested on the felony charge, as well as unrelated misdemeanor counts of issuing a bad check and contempt.

She is accused of harboring Frank Kircher, 32, after he allegedly escaped from a Leesville, La., prison where he was serving a sentence for drugs.

Kircher was arrested at Lemarrs house Wednesday morning, according to Whitefish Police Lt. Roger Bergstrom. Later in the day, Bergstrom and Secret Service agents arrested two other people near Essex who are charged with helping Kircher escape.

Joseph Lawrence, 32, and Katherin Sharbeno, 41, are charged with aiding a prisoner in escaping and Lawrence also was charged with a felony probation violation. They have reportedly been in Flathead County for about a month.

The Secret Service is involved because of a recorded comment one of the men allegedly made to another in a phone conversation about harming President Bush.

The three Louisiana residents will be extradited to that state, while Lemarr will remain here to face charges.