Man sentenced for meth sales

A 38-year-old former Columbia Falls area man was sentenced to two 15-year concurrent terms under the Department of Corrections after he was charged with selling meth to a confidential informant.

Flathead County District Court Judge Ted Lympus sentenced Brad McManus on May 21 after he pleaded guilty to two felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

Following a March 12 plea agreement, Lympus suspended 10 years of each sentence and recommended McManus be placed in the Connections Corrections or a similar treatment facility. He also gave McManus credit for 203 days in jail.

According to court records, the informant told a Northwest Montana Drug Task Force agent that McManus sold meth. A deal was arranged in December 2013 in Kalispell with the informant wearing an electronic transmitter. The informant purchased one gram of meth for $120.

A second deal was arranged in January 2014 at the gas station in Hungry Horse. The informant paid McManus $210 for two grams of meth. In both sales, the meth was tested and confirmed at the Montana State Crime Lab.