Alleged members of meth ring plead innocent
Five people allegedly involved in a methamphetamine trafficking ring pleaded not guilty to a variety of charges recently in Flathead District Court.
Tom Bell, 44, Derek Heft, 27, Diane Walters, Sarah Miller, 19, of Bonney Lake, Wash., and Clarissa Martin, 31, of Puyallup, Wash., were charged following an investigation by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force.
All five were charged with felony conspiracy to distribute dangerous drugs and all but Heft were charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.
Bell was also charged with felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person as well as a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted on all counts, he faces between two years and life in prison and a fine of up to $150,500.
Heft was also charged with felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with the intent to distribute as well as misdemeanor charges of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted on all counts, he faces between two years and life in prison and a fine of up to $151,000.
Walters was also charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted on all counts, she faces between two years and life in prison and a fine of up to $100,500.
Miller and Martin both face between two years and life in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted on all counts.
According to charging documents, agents with the task force — using two confidential informants and an uncharged co-conspirator — discovered Bell was selling meth to several dealers in the Flathead Valley in amounts of up to several pounds. Those who purchased the meth from Bell, including Heft, distributed the drugs throughout the valley.
Through the informants, investigators had made purchases from Heft and his girlfriend, Walters.
On Oct. 24, the agents located Bell in a rental car near his home in western Washington. They followed the vehicle to a store in Kalispell, when Heft’s vehicle pulled up next to it. Bell got into Heft’s vehicle while Walters went inside the store.
When agents approached the vehicle, Heft got out and was searched. He had a loaded handgun, extra magazines and a knife, as well as $4,118 in cash. A search of Bell turned up a glass pipe with meth residue and $3,292 in cash.
Miller tried to walk away and was apprehended by the agents. Another agent went inside the store and apprehended Walters. Martin was found in Bell’s car and also was apprehended.
During an interview, Heft admitted making several purchases from Bell, and Walters admitting assisting Heft. Both Miller and Martin admitted they traveled from western Washington with Bell and to helping him sell meth in the Flathead. Miller turned over $990 in cash to one of the agents.
When the vehicles were later searched, slightly less than 1 1/2 ounces of meth were found in Bell’s vehicle, along with $13,650 in cash. A silver handgun with the serial numbers ground off was found in the vehicle in a bag with the name “Sarah” on it.
Two shotguns and a pistol were found in Heft’s vehicle as well as slightly more than 1 1/2 pounds of meth. Agents also found a purse containing a jewel bag with a small amount of meth and a meth pipe where Walters had been sitting.