Woman pleads not guilty to obstruction charge

A woman charged with obstructing justice for allowing two men to live on her property knowing they were fugitives pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Flathead County District Court.

The two men, Daniel Joseph Schwindt, 40, and Brian Daniel Rendon, 36, are accused of causing a disturbance at a Creston residence and then shooting at responding deputies.

The trial for 46-year-old Cacheral Ghetti, formerly identified as Cacheral Delorean, is scheduled for February.

Schwindt is charged with criminal endangerment, assault on a peace officer and assault with a weapon, all felonies. Rendon is charged with felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor partner assault.

The two men also are wanted for parole violations out of Oregon. Schwindt's underlying offense there was unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Rendon's was homicide.

A fourth person charged in the incident, Amy Carrothers, 35, failed to appear last week for her arraignment. A bench warrant was issued for her arrest.

She is charged with obstructing justice for allowing Rendon, her boyfriend, to live with her knowing that he was wanted for parole violations.

The alleged disturbance took place on Ghetti's Riverside Road property in a trailer where Carrothers reportedly was living. Ghetti lives in a separate house about 100 yards away and had no involvement in the incident, according to detectives.

It is not yet clear whether Schwindt lived with Rendon and Carrothers in the trailer or with Ghetti in the house, detectives said.

At 1:23 a.m. on Oct. 25, Carrothers and another woman - not Ghetti - called the Sheriff's Office from the trailer to report that two men had beaten them up and then threatened to shoot at law enforcement.

As deputies approached the house, shots were fired toward officers. Law enforcement did not return fire.

Schwindt was arrested without incident while walking near the Flathead River. Rendon was arrested after approaching a vehicle and asking for a ride out of the area.

The pair had been in Montana for about three weeks, prosecutors said.

If convicted, Schwindt faces up to 40 years in prison and a $150,000 fine.

Rendon faces up to 11 years in prison and a $51,000 fine. Carrothers and Ghetti each face up to 10 years in prison.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com