Plea deals reached in pot grow
Two local men charged with operating three marijuana grow houses on Larch Lane and Krause Lane in the Creston area earlier this year have reached plea agreements with the Flathead County Attorney’s Office and pleaded guilty in Flathead County District Court.
Jacob McDonald, 38, of Hungry Horse, and Eric Speer, 33, of Columbia Falls, were charged with helping Jeremy Frey, 32, and Tonia Frey, 33, of Kalispell, run the illegal drug business.
McDonald and Speer pleaded not guilty to felony charges of criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs on May 28. McDonald and Speer each faced between two years and life in prison if convicted.
About 137 marijuana plants were found under grow lights at one of the houses, where the windows were covered and ventilation had been installed. Marijuana at all three houses reportedly was labeled with the same or similar brands.
In a Sept. 17 plea agreement, the state recommended a three-year deferred sentence for Speer. He pleaded guilty before Judge Robert Allison on Sept. 17. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.
McDonald had a prior drug conviction and received a more severe plea deal. He and his girlfriend allegedly were found in possession of one pound of cocaine divided into baggies and $6,000 in cash in 2006. Polaroid photos found at the time showed McDonald’s girlfriend next to a large quantity of marijuana.
Flathead County District Court Judge Ted Lympus sentenced McDonald in that case to 10 years under the Department of Corrections with five suspended for felony charges of possession with intent to sell and possession.
In the plea agreement for the 2014 case, the state recommended a 10-year suspended sentence under the Department of Corrections if McDonald pleaded guilty by Alford plea, meaning he maintained his innocence but recognized the overwhelming evidence against him.
The plea deal calls for not revoking McDonald’s sentence in the 2006 case but instead adding the two years remaining to the 10 years from the 2014 case. McDonald pleaded guilty before Judge Robert Allison on Oct. 11. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 11.