Saturday, December 06, 2025
33.0°F

Cocaine dealer's sentence suspended

Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
by Jesse Davis
| March 11, 2014 9:00 PM

A Kalispell cocaine dealer has been given a 10-year suspended sentence after selling the drug at a Bigfork bar.

Phillip Sowder, 35, had pleaded guilty to felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs.

Charging documents say that 33-year-old Travis Martin, the owner of Rendezvous Lounge in Bigfork, sold nine grams of cocaine across three transactions at the bar on Aug. 30 and 31, 2012, and another ounce on Sept. 13, 2012, for a total of $1,860, before allegedly introducing the buyers to Sowder, whom he said was his source for the drug.

Sowder then sold the buyers a further ounce of cocaine for $1,200 while at the bar.

More than 64 grams of cocaine, 65 marijuana plants in a grow operation and a large amount of money later were found in Sowder’s home.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Judge Ted Lympus ordered Sowder to pay a $400 public defender fee.

Martin has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. His next hearing is set for March 19.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].

ARTICLES BY JESSE DAVIS

November 22, 2013 5:15 a.m.

Wild ride results in two charges

KALISPELL — A Polson man who allegedly crashed his car into several objects and nearly another vehicle before hitting a road sign has pleaded not guilty to a pair of charges.

September 7, 2013 5:27 p.m.

Officer placed on leave

Faces new investigation

POLSON — A Polson police officer is on administrative leave and facing both an internal and criminal investigation after a weekend incident at Swanee’s Bar & Grill.

April 20, 2012 9 a.m.

Lake County investigations in legislative spotlight

HELENA — Allegations of corruption and cover-ups within the Lake County Sheriff’s Office have caught the attention of Montana attorney general hopeful Jim Shockley, who is using his clout in the state Legislature to bring light to what is and isn’t being done to investigate.