.::The Montana Standard::.

Lawyer appointed to defend TB man

Victim undergoes reconstructive jaw surgery

A judge has ordered that a Twin Bridges man accused of shooting another man in the face this week take an attorney to help with his legal defense despite the man’s insistence that he represent himself.

Madison County Justice Maryann O’Malley decided that a state public defender will represent Richard Shueneman, 64.

Shueneman is charged with felony assault with a weapon for allegedly shooting 19-year-old Morgan Dorseth early Tuesday with a .30-06 rifle on a ranch south of Twin Bridges.

Shueneman in his initial appearance said he didn’t want a lawyer and would represent himself.

Following O’Malley’s order, Shueneman will be represented by Walter Hennessey, a Butte lawyer. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Shueneman is still being held at the Madison County jail in Virginia City on $25,000 bail.

Dorseth was in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was having surgery Thursday afternoon to begin reconstruction of his jaw, said Lars Dorseth, a brother, in a telephone interview.

Morgan Dorseth is communicating with his family through notes and some makeshift sign language. The bullet missed major arteries and from this point forward surgeries will be cosmetic, Lars Dorseth said.

“The doctors have been extremely impressed with the progress he’s made,” Dorseth said. “He’s got a sense of humor because I’ll start cracking jokes and he’ll put me off.” Lars Dorseth added that doctors have indicated Morgan could be sent home as early as next week.

Back in Twin Bridges, a Ruby Valley rancher is launching an effort to get a home for Shueneman.

Lloyd Carlson said Shueneman, as a longtime ranch hand, has for years lived simply in a small trailer on the Grose Ranch south of Twin Bridges and kept to himself.

“He just wanted to be left alone,” Carlson said.

Reporter Nick Gevock may be reached at nick.gevock@mtstandard.com.

Civil Dialogue:

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Reader Comments:

ldsbumpma wrote on Jul 21, 2008 4:44 PM:

" After this poor man was carted off to jail where he still sits, someone rifled through his belongings and scattered them all over. Finally his niece was able to gain custody of them and place them in a safe place. He took care of his employer for years for little is any pay and now has no where to go. These young punks are running around free while he has to pay for a defense. Is this justice?? He did not deserve to be treated this way. Most of the young men have apologized with the notable exception of the two young men who over a period of years led these attacks while living on the same ranch with him. Family members had to know this was going on. Something should be done so these guys don't think they can get away with this behavior. "

dsashcraft wrote on Jul 19, 2008 10:48 AM:

" Why, we are not reading about the charges that should be brought against the four young men that were rocking Mr. Shuenemans trailer. This is what triggered the shooting! Had the youths not been trespassing and shaking his trailer Mr. Dorseth would not have been shot lets stick with the facts of the story. This has been a common occurrence the boys referred to it as "rocking the dick" they have tormented this man for absolutely no reason and when he finally had enough, he is the one in jail. Where is the justice here? Why haven't the young men involved been charged? By rocking Mr. Shuenemans trailer Mr. Shueneman could have been seriously injured himself. Talk about injustice at it's best here is a good example. These young men are the ones that should be in jail not Mr. Shueneman.

What happened to respecting your elders? I feel sorry for Mr. Doseth for being shot in the face. However, bottom line is that had he not been tresspassing and rocking Mr. Shuenemans trailer at 2 am Mr. Dorseth and the other young men involved would not have been shot at. "

lilbit wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:45 PM:

" I hope that the older Gentlemen can hopefully have a decent out come of all this. It's not right to be harrassed by some you little punks that have nothing better to do then harrass some one that would like to be left well enough alone. I guess that it is to bad that they weren't taught by their parents to respect the peirs. Only sympathy here is for Richard. Hopefuly some one learned their lesson here. To bad it seems to have to go to extremes and some one having a near death exerience before the light comes on. "

bblilley wrote on Jul 18, 2008 7:26 PM:

" how come the paper didn't say anything about these boys on private property. This man has always just wanted to live a very quite life. Why were they doing the shaking trailer on him and not expect something to happen? "

you called someone an idiot, a racist, a dope, a moron, etc. Please, no name-calling or profanity (or veiled profanity -- #$%^&*).

you rambled, failed to stay on topic or exhibited troll-like behavior intended to hijack the discussion at hand.

YOU SHOUTED YOUR COMMENT IN ALL CAPS. This is hard to read and annoys readers.

you have issues with a business. Have a bad meal? Feel you were overcharged at the store? New car is a lemon? Contact the business directly with your customer service concerns.

you believe the newspaper's coverage is unfair. It would be better to write the editor at editor@mtstandard.com, or call Editor Gerry O'Brien at 496-5513 or Opinion Editor Roberta Stauffer at 496-5514. This is a forum for community discussion, not for media criticism. We'd rather address your concerns directly.

you included an e-mail address or phone number, pretended to be someone you aren't or offered a comment that makes no sense.

you accused someone of a crime or assigned guilt or punishment to someone suspected of a crime.

your comment is in really poor taste.
The Montana Standard reserves the right to remove comments considered inappropriate for the community forum.

Lawyer appointed to defend TB man

By Nick Gevock - 07/18/2008

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