Hungry Horse man sentenced on meth charge

A 44-year-old Hungry Horse man charged with possession of methamphetamine and a meth pipe was sentenced in Flathead County District Court on Jan. 30.

Judge Robert Allison sentenced Ronald Millward on a charge of felony possession of dangerous drugs to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections, all suspended but consecutive to an earlier sentence Millward received for brutally assaulting his wife.

According to court records, in November 2005, Millward reportedly threw his wife against a wall and on the floor, grabbed her throat and hit her with a rack, and then ran an electrical circular saw near her face. Their 13-year-old son witnessed the assault.

A plea agreement in that case was reached six months after his arrest. All charges were dismissed in exchange for Millward pleading guilty to one felony count of criminal endangerment.

Judge Stewart Stadler sentenced Millward in August 2006 to 10 years with five suspended and $3,868 in restitution. In his sentencing order, Stadler cited Millward’s prior criminal and drug abuse history and recommended him for placement in the state’s Connections Corrections program.

But early last year, after urinalysis tests indicated Millward was using meth while under probation, Judge Heidi Ulbricht revoked and reimposed Millward’s earlier sentence. He was given credit for time served and a recommendation that he be screened for the Missoula Assessment and Sanction Center (MASC) program.

Millward was remanded to the custody of the Flathead County sheriff after Allison sentenced him on the drug possession charge.