Local man sentenced to five years suspended for probation violation

An Anaconda man has been sentenced to five years, all suspended, to the Montana Department of Corrections after he admitted to allegations that he violated the terms of his sentence for a previous drug conviction, which was ordered to be deferred for three years when he was sentenced in December 2024. 

Dennis Marry appeared before Judge Jeffrey Dahood in 3rd Judicial District Court on Wednesday, Feb. 25 where he was accused of committing three probation and parole violations. In addition to the suspended sentence, the court recommended the defendant see a counselor, Mary Joe Malhoney.

The defendant was found to have violated his parole by using illegal drugs, namely, testing positive for methamphetamine; failing to pay his monthly supervision fees; and failing to report to appointments with his probation and parole officer.

According to the petition to revoke the order deferring sentence, the defendant’s  probation and parole officer, Ryan Campbell said the defendant “has continued with criminal activity, and he fails to follow any directives.”

“He has shown no interest in following the rules in this community, and his behavior continues to jeopardize the community’s safety, and the safety of anyone around him,” Campbell wrote. “He has put zero effort into his supervision or trying to change and incarceration is the only appropriate alternative.”

The documents state that the defendant provided a positive urinalysis test for methamphetamine on Jan. 9, 2025, Jan. 23, 2025, and April 24, 2025, and admitted to using meth on June 9, 2025 and July 15, 2025.

The defendant was given credit for time served.