Ronan woman faces new drug charge
JEFF SMITH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 2 weeks AGO
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader. | January 28, 2026 11:00 PM
A Ronan woman, already facing drug and endangerment charges, now faces another drug charge. Yesenia Garcia, 24, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Jan. 21 to felony criminal possession with intent to distribute.
According to court records, on Jan. 12, law enforcement officers detained her, as she was wanted on an outstanding warrant stemming from her pending charges.
During a search of her person and belongings, the officers located a shoulder bag containing three small baggies. One had 40 suspected fentanyl pills, another contained 10 and the third contained two white chunks of fentanyl weighing about one gram.
Garcia allegedly admitted that she had purchased the fentanyl in Missoula for $7 per pill, and sold fentanyl to support her own habit.
The criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal endangerment charges stem from a pursuit with law enforcement on Sept. 11, 2024.
Judge Molly Owen set a trial date of July 20. Garcia remains in custody with bond totaling $50,000 between the two cases.
ARTICLES BY JEFF SMITH
Mission man sentenced to 100 years for sexual abuse of children
Christopher Michael Sands, 47, was sentenced to the Montana Department of Corrections for 100 years with 75 years suspended on each of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of sexual abuse of children, to run concurrently to each other.
Kalispell man accused of attempting to strangle driver
A 20-year-old Kalispell man is accused of attempting to choke the driver of a vehicle, endangering the lives of the occupants.
Polson woman accused of assaulting children
Katherine Nicole Harner, 36, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court on Oct. 22 to felony charges of strangulation of a partner or family member and criminal endangerment.