A Libby woman previously charged with drug trafficking is headed to prison following her admissions she continued to use illegal drugs and flunked out of the county’s treatment program.

A little more than three years ago, Amber Patterson Martin, 41, and Christopher Wayne Martin, 37, were each sentenced to deferred terms of five years in a state correction institution following their guilty please in the spring of 2023 to use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture, specifically $2,983 in cash.

Christopher Martin remains on probation and is supervised by Kalispell Probation and Parole officers.

But for Amber Martin, her violations and admissions mean she will be headed to a state Department of Corrections facililty for a 5-year term. 

Lincoln County attorney Marica Boris requested Martin be screened for placement in a facility offering treatment.

Martin’s counsel, Daniel Wood, said the plea deal was a joint agreement.

District Judge Matt Cuffe, who delivered the matching five-year terms to both defendants June 12, 2023, noted the credit Amber Martin would receive for serving 34 days in custody and 506 days of street time.

In the original case, both were each initially charged with two felony counts of possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to distribute following a Jan. 23, 2023 traffic stop. They were also charged with use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture, also known as cash.

Both hearings saw debate on paying restitution and fines related to the respective cases. The defendants each described their employment situations at the time as tenuous.

Amber Martin, who said she was the mother of three children, with two being school-aged, said she hadn’t worked in a number of years. She also said she received food stamps.

Boris asked Martin if paying $35 per month was out of the question. Defendants have the duration of their sentence to pay fines and restitution.

“With other court fees I’m paying, $35 is possible, but it would be tough,” she said then.

Ultimately, Cuffe waived the $800 public defender fee and suspended the fines. She received credit for serving 21 days in the county jail.

For her husband, Christopher Martin, through public defender Charles Sprinkle, he wanted the $800 public defender fee waived. Martin said he was self-employed and made money selling flags, hats and other merchandise.

“It’s an up and down thing,” Martin described at the time. “I’ve been at two events and made a total of $2,000.”

He also said he has worked construction and remodeling jobs in the past. Boris asked Martin how he managed to buy 115 grams of methamphetamine. Martin said at the time of the arrest the $2,983 that was seized by law enforcement were winnings from a casino.

Martin also said he has property in the Marion area he bought with his mother in 2020.

Cuffe ordered he had the ability to pay the fines and court costs.

Both were originally lodged in the Lincoln County Detention Center on $100,000 bond, but were released since being arraigned on the charges on Feb. 13, 2023.

According to the probable cause statement by Brandon Holzer of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Amber Martin was arrested on Jan. 23 coming into Libby on U.S. 2 for driving on a suspended license and driving under the influence of dangerous drugs by deputy Tony Jenson. The vehicle was seized after a K-9 unit alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.

At the time of the traffic stop, Christopher Martin was in the back seat and suspected of being under the influence of fentanyl. He was later given a ride to his residence by Deputy John Hyslop.

On Jan. 24, Deputy Dan Holskey wrote a warrant for the vehicle. After a search of it, officers reported finding 27 fentanyl pills, 115 grams of meth and 9.8 ounces of marijuana bud and $2,983. Officers also reported finding hundreds of small distribution bags and scales in the vehicle.

The officers also reported finding ledgers and receipts explaining illegal drug costs and how much they were making coming back home from Tacoma, Washington, including how much they were getting in cash.

According to the probable cause statement, the officers learned Christopher Martin was trying to bond Amber out of jail. Christopher was then taken into custody for possession with intent to distribute dangerous drugs. Amber was also charged and denied bonding out. Their cash was seized and both were given subject to forfeiture citations.

Each had faced 10-year terms in the Montana State Prison.