Anaconda man gets five years for violating terms of suspended sentence

An Anaconda man was sentenced on April 15 to five years, none suspended, to Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) for violating the conditions of his suspended sentence from five years ago, and five years, all suspended, for drug charges.

Paul Clark was sentenced in 3rd Judicial District Court by Judge Jeffrey Dahood on Wednesday, April 15 after he admitted to violating some of the terms of his suspended sentence in January. Among the conditions he violated were laws and conduct and illegal drug use, and he admitted to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs on April 15.

The defendant was found in possession of the drug DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) on January 16. DMT is a strong psychedelic drug, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

In addition to violating the laws and conduct and illegal drug use conditions of his parole, he also violated the conditions by failing to show up to his weekly one-one-one chemical dependency meeting since November, failing to enroll in or complete a Cognitive Principles and Restructuring course since April 21, 2021, and failing to pay supervision fees since April 21, 2021, which have accrued to the total of $945, according to court documents.

The maximum penalty for a conviction of criminal endangerment is a 5-year sentence to a state prison and a $5,000 fine.

No fine was imposed for the revocation nor the new suspended sentence, although the defendant was ordered to pay court fees.