California man pleads not guilty in murder of girlfriend in Polson

A California man accused of killing his girlfriend earlier this year pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide and attempted deliberate homicide in district court in Polson on March 6.

Cameron Francis, 49, was arraigned before Judge John Mercer in the 20th Judicial District Court, which encompasses Lake and Sanders counties. 

According to charging documents, the charges stem from an incident late on the night of Feb. 14. Francis allegedly fired approximately 20 rounds from an assault rifle at Polson Police officer Michael Wharton’s patrol car before he fled from a traffic stop. The rounds showered the officer with broken glass and caused extensive damage to his vehicle.

Francis was arrested within an hour in the Elmo area.

A request for a welfare check on Francis’ girlfriend the following Sunday, Feb. 16, led police to her dead body. Lake County Attorney James Lapokta explained in charging documents that Kimberly Goodson, 48, died from a single gunshot to the face. 

Shell casings at both scenes matched an assault rifle found in the Honda Accord – registered to Goodson – that Francis was driving when he shot at the officer on Feb. 14.

Records show Francis has a lengthy criminal history in the state of California.

Mercer set a trial date of July 21 and modified the suspect’s bail from $5 million to a no-bond hold due to the serious nature of the alleged crimes.