A man is accused of felony drug distribution after he was given a second chance by Flathead District Court Judge Ted Lympus for participating in a 2009 theft of a safe containing upwards of $100,000 in cash and gold coins. 

Lance Austin Gendreau, 26, is facing two felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and one felony count of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute.

Gendreau entered a not guilty plea to one of the charges in Flathead District Court on Thursday.

According to court documents, Gendreau allegedly was observed on April 6 by members of the Northwest Drug Task Force selling seven grams of methamphetamine for $400.

A few weeks earlier, on March 17, the Northwest Drug Task Force allegedly had observed Gendreau selling someone $130 worth of heroin.

He also was allegedly caught at a hotel in Flathead County on Jan. 9 in possession of a large glass bong, several glass pipes, 7.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 4.6 grams of suspected heroin, 3.6 grams of marijuana, a shotgun, multiple jewel bags, digital scales, notebooks with transactions and serial numbers of weapons, cash, multiple cellphones and computers.

Gendreau’s trial is set for Jan. 17.

Gendreau is a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty to felony theft for partaking in a burglary of a home on Willow Glen Drive on March 29, 2009. Gendreau and three others broke into the home, extracted a safe and made off with $100,000 in cash and gold coins before they dumped it into a river.

Gendreau received a three-year deferred sentence and his attorney told Lympus at the time that “age and stupidity” were factors in the crime. Gendreau told the judge that he had enrolled at the University of Montana and had paid the victims back $35,000. Gendreau assured Lympus that he would take advantage of the second chance and stay out of trouble.

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