County commissioner's jury trial rescheduled

Flathead County Commissioner Phil Mitchell’s jury trial has been postponed for a second time and is now slated for June 4.

Mitchell was scheduled to stand trial Monday, Feb. 26 for the alleged girdling of six cottonwood trees in a county park on Whitefish Lake that caused the trees to die. Mitchell was charged with felony criminal mischief and pleaded not guilty in Flathead District Court on Aug. 31.

The case was originally postponed after being shifted around to several different judges. Ninth District Court Judge Robert G. Olson will preside over Mitchell’s trial — anticipated to be a four-day jury trial beginning in early June. Olson, who covers Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole counties, will travel to Flathead County District Court in Kalispell for the trial.