A Libby woman accused of a felony drug distribution charge after an incident earlier this summer at Happy's Inn recently pleaded guilty.

Candace R. Hendrickson, 33, pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to an amended charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Hendrickson pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on the original charge Aug. 31 in Lincoln County District Court. 

The court proceeding included Hendrickson’s sentencing by District Judge Matt Cuffe. He delivered a six-month suspended sentence to Hendrickson. She was given credit for serving two days in the Lincoln County Detention Center. She must also pay $585 in court costs.

Included in her release terms, Hendrickson is not permitted to possess alcohol, marijuana or drugs and she must also submit to random drug testing.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, two on-duty Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputies were at a June 27 concert at Happy’s Inn when they received a tip from an off-duty county corrections officer that Hendrickson was seen passing out mushrooms to multiple people at the event.

When deputy Andrew Smith spoke to Hendrickson he asked her what she was passing out to everybody. She allegedly referred to a "weed pen." After the officer told the accused they had reports she was passing out mushrooms, she said, "No, yeah take it" and indicated she had just gotten a purse containing the mushrooms.

While the deputy attempted to get permission to search the purse, Hendrickson allegedly grabbed a bag and handed it to him. She said the bag hadn't been opened, but the officer said the top of the bag was torn.

When the deputy asked Hendrickson how many items she passed out, she said she wasn't sure because she "got it from my baby daddy."

During their discussion, the officer said that the problem was her passing mushrooms out to people at a concert. She replied, "Well, I was asked, I was asked to give them out.”

When the deputy told Hendrickson she could have declined, she said, "you're right" and said she was told to hold them because she had a purse, according to the affidavit.

When she was asked who she gave the mushrooms to, she named, "Summer" and referenced people that "Brody and Crystal" knew in relation to who some of the items may have gone to.

Hendrickson faced a felony charge in 2015 when she was accused of possessing methamphetamine. 

She was found not guilty in a January 2016 trial.

Hendrickson’s criminal history in Lincoln County Justice Court dates back to 2012 when she was guilty of possessing an intoxicating substance while under the age of 21. According to court filings, other guilty pleas include driving without insurance, assault and disorderly conduct.

Other charges of driving on a suspended license and failing to stop for a school bus were dismissed.

In Libby City Court, Hendrickson pleaded guilty in 2016 to theft, possessing intoxicating substances while under the age of 21 and disorderly conduct in 2012.