Two sentenced in separate drug possession cases

Two defendants were sentenced to five years suspended in the Montana Department of Corrections after pleading guilty  to separate felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

Kirk Meyer appeared before Judge Jeffrey Dahood in 3rd Judicial District Court in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County on July 23, where he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, and a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, second offense, a misdemeanor, while Taylor O’Neal also pleaded guilty in 3rd District Court the same to a felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs in a separate case. 

Both matters proceeded to sentencing, where both defendants received five-year suspended sentences, while Meyer also was sentenced to seven days in the ADLC Detention Center, none dismissed, for a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence.

Pursuant to a plea agreement with the State of Montana, three counts of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors; a count of driving while license is suspended or revoked, second or subsequent offense; and a count of driving without liability insurance in Meyer’s case were dismissed. In O’Neal’s case, a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed.

In Meyer’s case, the prosecuting attorney recommended a sentence of five years to the Montana Department of Corrections, all suspended, in exchange for a plea of guilty to the criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and in exchange for a guilty plea of a second offense of driving under the influence, recommended a sentence of seven days in jail, none suspended, and a fine of $1,200 and the completion of the ACT Prime for Life course. The prosecuting attorney also recommended that all the other charges be dropped and that the sentences run concurrent to each other.

In O’Neal’s case, the state recommended a sentence of five years to the Montana Department of Corrections, all suspended.

The maximum sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs is five years in state prison and a $5,000 fine. The sentence for driving under the influence, second offense, is between seven days and one year of imprisonment and a fine of between $1,200 and $2,000.