POLSON — Jerry Dickson, 28, of Polson, was found guilty of criminal possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, a felony. 

On Feb. 1, an informant provided information to the Northwest Drug Task Force that Dickson was growing marijuana plants in his garage. On Feb. 7, Officer Arlen Aawuld of the Flathead Tribal Police applied for a search warrant and searched the defendant’s garage. Officers confiscated 50 plants, high power lights on timers, fertilizers, ventilation equipment and several large bags of marijuana buds weighing more than a pound. The garage also contained mature adult plants as well as immature plants and clones. Officers also located a digital scale, several boxes of plastic baggies and a pistol, according to court documents. 

The defendant was arrested and had on his person several baggies of marijuana and several more in his vehicle. On his way to the Lake County Jail the defendant stated that he used to be a legal seller and he used to have enough patients for the plants he had. The defendant also stated that he “was no longer registered as a caregiver,” and that he knew he should have stopped growing. 

The original charges from on or about Feb. 7, were count I, the defendant purposely or knowingly cultivated marijuana, a dangerous drug as defined in MCA 50-32-101, and  the total number of plants was more than 30 with the total weight of the marijuana exceeding one pound. Count II, The defendant purposely or knowingly possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute said marijuana. 

Charges for count I, of criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs, a felony, were dropped in the plea agreement to Dickson pleading guilty to count II, criminal possession with intention to distribute, a felony.

The court’s sentence is suspended for six years. Additionally, the defendant is sentenced to Lake County Jail for a term of 30 days. Jail sentence may be satisfied if the defendant enters and successfully completes an inpatient chemical dependency treatment program. The defendant shall have 90 days to serve jail time or inpatient treatment. The defendant is also fined $1,000.