Neighbors' feud leads to threats, break-in

The cases of feuding neighbors were adjudicated in Lake County District Court earlier this fall.

Jared Anthony Ondaro, 41, had two felony charges against him dismissed while Ryan Jacob Evarts, 38, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors.

The men were neighbors on Rising Wolf Drive in Ferndale, although Evarts has since moved out of the area.

Ondaro was arrested Aug. 9 after allegedly breaking into Evarts’ home. He was charged with burglary and criminal mischief but those charges were dismissed by District Judge Deborah Christopher Sept. 16 because she said prosecutors took too long to file charges. County Attorney Mitch Young said charges were filed Aug. 23.  

Ondaro was in the Lake County Jail from Aug. 10 to Sept. 3. Lake County Undersheriff Dan Yonkin said alcohol was a factor in the case against Ondaro.

Deputies believe Ondaro broke through a glass door in Evarts’ house Aug. 9 and began trashing the place.

Court documents indicate Evarts called 911 Aug. 9 to report that a neighbor was trying to punch out his windows. Evarts’ wife, Michaela Orton, called and identified the man as Ondaro. Orton said he had broken out their living-room window and entered. Deputies found a living room window broken and overturned and broken furniture, plus blood on the floor, walls and couch.

According to deputies, a belligerent Ondaro walked out of the woods a short time later, apparently intoxicated. He had blood on his shirt and lower legs and said someone had killed his dog.

Evarts told officers Ondaro had confronted him earlier in the day about a dispute with a neighbor several days before. Ondaro came to Evarts’ residence a second time Aug. 9, Evarts said, and was yelling about his dogs and threatened to kill him. Evarts climbed out a window and left his home after hearing noises.

Damage to the house was estimated to be more than $1,500, including a broken TV, a damaged dining room table and couch, gouges in the walls and the broken window.

According to court documents, Ondaro admitted going to Evarts’ home and said Evarts gave him beer during the first visit Aug. 9.

Deputies talked to neighbors and determined Evarts had been involved with disputes with them and was not well-liked in the neighborhood. There was also a report of a break-in at Evarts’ home several days after Aug. 9.

“The clear implication of these facts is that there are individuals other than the defendant [Ondaro] who have motive to commit — and in fact have committed — similar crimes against the victim,” the county attorney said in document filed in court. “It appears unlikely that the witnesses will be particularly supportive of the victim if they are called to testify in this case.”  

Prior to dismissal of the charges, Ondaro’s attorney, Ashley Morigeau, told the court that “the state’s sheer laziness in missing deadlines creates a dangerous precedent.”

Evarts, meanwhile, pleaded guilty Oct. 22 to criminal trespass, public nuisance and disorderly conduct as part of a plea agreement. The charges stemmed from an Aug. 7 incident.

Ondaro’s dog was apparently a problem for Evarts, who posted signs telling Ondaro to keep his dog in check, Yonkin said.

According to Evarts’ citations, the offenses occurred after Evarts placed signs in Ondaro’s yard, used profanity and threatened to kill his dog and unlawfully entered Maren King’s property on Sundance Trail. He also created a “condition offensive to the senses ... by having continual profane temper tantrums that affect the community.”  

Evarts was fined a total of $530. Evarts also received a suspended six-month jail sentence, which can be revoked anytime through April 22 if he gets in trouble with the law again. A third charge of disorderly conduct was dismissed.

A disorderly conduct charge against Orton for disturbing the peace by using profane and abusive language toward a neighbor was dismissed.

Soptelean is a reporter for the Bigfork Eagle.