Two from Kalispell face drug charges

The Daily Inter Lake

Two Kalispell residents accused of distributing methamphetamine and cocaine in Mineral County have pleaded innocent to federal drug charges.

Kenneth Chandler, 29, and Alicia Weatherston, 20, entered not-guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with the intent to distribute.

They were arraigned this week in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

A third man charged in connection with the trafficking operation, Lorenzo Segovia of El Paso, Texas, also pleaded innocent.

According to court documents, Chandler, Weatherston, and Segovia in late January brought more than 5 grams of methamphetamine and an undisclosed amount of cocaine into Mineral County to sell.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana does not comment on pending cases.

If convicted, Chandler, Weatherston, and Segovia face a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and could be sentenced for up to 40 years.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Montana Highway Patrol.