The State Supreme Court has upheld a Class A misdemeanor menacing conviction for Clark Newell Stenbak, 44, of Stanley.

Stenbak had argued that there wasn’t enough evidence for a jury in district court in Stanley to convict him last November. The Supreme Court ruled that there was sufficient evidence for the verdict and it will stand.

According to court documents, Stenbak called 911 on April 4, 2019, to complain about noise coming from church bells. Officer Christopher Jenkins knocked on the front door. Stenbak asked what he wanted and ordered Jenkins to leave. Jenkins explained he was there in response to the emergency call and he could do nothing about the church bells. Stenbak told Jenkins he was trespassing and to get off his property. Jenkins informed Stenbak he could be cited for calling 911 without a good reason. Stenbak reached down and grabbed pruning shears. Jenkins claimed that Stenbak swung the pruning shears at him and Stenbak claimed he had the shears in his hands but did not swing them at the officer. Jenkins moved toward Stenbak, they wrestled, and Jenkins pushed Stenbak against the house and Stenbak ended up folded over a banister. Stenbak was placed under arrest.

Stenbak was subsequently found guilty when the case went to trial. He was sentenced to 360 days in jail, with 296 days suspended, and given credit for 56 days served in jail. He was placed on supervised probation for 18 months.