Flathead District Court Judge Robert Allison on Thursday refused to lower the $95,000 bail set for Kalispell resident Jasper Marten Howell, whom a prosecutor alleged is one of “the top drug runners” in Flathead Valley.

Howell, 39, had asked that he be granted a release on his own recognizance or a reduced bail amount as he does not have the financial resources to post $95,000 bail, nor does his family. He wanted to enroll in a drug treatment program and gave several options to the court. He has been in jail for more than 60 days.

“I have a serious drug problem and I am ready to submit, let go of my resistance to that and realize that I am a drug addict,” Howell said.

Howell has pleaded not guilty to felony counts of theft and criminal possession with intent to distribute, two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of eluding a police officer. He is accused of going on a drug-fueled crime spree.

According to court documents, Howell was caught in July with stolen property including weed-eaters, flat-screen TVs, outboard motors, an air compressor and other items reported stolen between Jan. 1 and July 18. Once he was caught, Howell allegedly admitted trafficking methamphetamine and heroin into the Flathead Valley multiple times over the past two years. He was arrested twice in August, allegedly for having drugs and drug-dealing paraphernalia in his possession.

In one of those instances he allegedly was found in an unlocked car at a dealership, asleep, with a meth pipe in one hand and a lighter in the other. During those arrests officers recovered 16.4 grams of suspected meth, multiple jewel baggies containing one gram each of suspected meth, suspected heroin, a woman’s stolen credit card, a butane torch, foil wrappers, a digital scale, glass pipes, a micro torch, and pills of Alprazolam and Clonazepam.

He remained in Flathead Valley Aug. 30 after a Kalispell police officer tried to stop him because he was allegedly driving an all-terrain vehicle at a high rate of speed with no headlights. Howell led officers on a 40-mph chase and ran through five stop signs before he crashed the vehicle down an embankment. Howell was thrown from the ATV and allegedly fled on foot before he was apprehended.

When he was searched, officers allegedly found a bag of marijuana plus suspected heroin.

In addition to the state charges, prosecutor Alison Howard said that more punishment is likely hanging over him.

“It’s no secret that he’s being federally indicted as well,” Howard said.

Howard said that Howell “was one of the top drug runners in the Flathead Valley.” His case was so severe that she filed charges against him without waiting for Montana Crime Lab results on suspected drugs to come back first. Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset then called the lab to have the tests expedited, Howard said.

Howell is set to go to trial in the state case in March 2017. His attorney, William Managhan, said that if circumstances were different, Howell would likely be able to change his plea and admit to his crimes in order to be sentenced and seek treatment, but that if Howell does that, he could face stiffer punishment if he is convicted of federal drug crimes.

“Under the federal system, if he was to plead in this case to go to treatment, he would get hosed,” Managhan explained.

Howell qualified for Medicaid health care that would have paid for his treatment prior to his arrest. Prisoners do not qualify for Medicaid. Howell proposed that he be released to his brother’s home, where he would stay long enough to qualify for Medicaid and then head to treatment. Howell said he would check himself back into jail after treatment, if Judge Allison let him go.

Howell acknowledged that at the rate he was going, he might not still be alive is someone hadn’t put him behind bars. He said that a year ago he checked into the Montana Chemical Dependency Center in Butte at his mother’s urging. He said he had lost his job and it was apparent that he needed chemical dependency treatment. He lasted 36 hours before he got into a disagreement with staff and got himself kicked out. Things continued to roll downhill from there. In March, he said he placed his children in the care of his brother for their wellbeing.

He said it was only when he was placed in jail for an extended period of time that he sobered up and realized that he needed help.

“It’s been a wonderful experience as far as getting it out of my system and there being a physical barrier in between me and drugs,” Howell said.

However, Howell testified that he wanted to take the next step in coping with his addiction problem.

Howell’s brother, Agni Howell, testified that he had major reservations about taking his brother out of jail until recently, when he saw him start to be accountable and admit to his problems. Before the arrest Jasper was almost unrecognizable, Agni Howell said.

“It’s changed drastically,” Agni Howell said. “The time leading up to him going into jail he was completely insane from drug use.”

Howell’s mother also testified in support of sending her son to treatment.

Judge Allison said he was glad to see the family support for Howell and is glad that is sounds like Howell wants to change his ways.

“I’m a little bit torn I have to admit,” Allison said.

Allison said he’s signed between four and six search warrants issued by the Northwest Drug Task Force against Howell and that he was glad to see Howell was finally picked up.

“I think you are doing better,” Allison said. “You went to treatment; you didn’t stay. You went to jail. You are doing better.”

He said not lowering bond is a way to make sure that Howell is not back out to the streets, getting himself and others in trouble.

“I’m going to deny the motion,” Allison said. “I want you to stay right where you are. At least I know you are safe, the community is safe.”

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.