Hitchhiker Arraigned In Glasgow, Trial Date Set For Jan. 8

The man who falsely claimed he was shot in the arm by a motorist outside of Glasgow made his initial appearance in District Court last Wednesday. During the 25-minute arraignment proceeding, Ray Niblem Dolin, 39, pleaded not guilty to one felony charge of tampering with evidence and two misdemeanor charges, making a false report and obstructing a peace officer.

He is out of jail on $10,000 bond.

Dolin’s attorney, Jeff Simkovic of Billings, asked the court to allow him to live in both Julian, W. Va., and Maybee, Mich., where he plans to move. Dolin has a relative in Maybee whom he can stay with, and there is a nearby VA hospital where he can get treatment.

County Attorney Nicholas Murnion said the state prefers one residence at a time, but he would have no objection to Dolin’s changing his official residence with written notice.

An omnibus hearing was set for Sept. 17. Dolin does not need to be present and his attorney can appear by video. A trial date of Jan. 8, 2013, was picked. Murnion said he expected the trial would last two to three days.

The maximum penalty for the felony charge is 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Each misdemeanor could result in six months in jail and a $500 fine.

The case began on June 9, when Dolin was found injured at a historical marker three miles west of Glasgow. He told officers that he was hitchhiking and a man in a maroon pickup drove up, shot him in the arm, and left. The case attracted nationwide attention because of the ironic fact that Dolin, a freelance photographer, was traveling to write a book on the kindness of America.

Based on Dolin’s description, a manhunt in northeast Montana netted a suspect who was driving drunk near Culbertson. Christopher Danielson of Tumwater, Wash., was jailed in Valley County under $100,000 bond. However, Dolin’s story unraveled and his hoax to gain publicity for his book was revealed. He had shot himself and had thrown the gun into a field. It was later retrieved as evidence. He was amazed that the police had found someone to match the story he had made up. Danielson was released from the felony assault charge and sent back to Roosevelt County on the misdemeanor DUI.