Man pleads innocent to cruelty, drug charges
A 22-year-old Columbia Falls man pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty and drug possession charges Thursday in Flathead District Court.
Darrin Farrell faces four felony counts of cruelty to animals related to an investigation on Aug. 17 and 18, 2011, initiated by a report of malnourished dogs owned by Farrell.
According to court documents, a woman reported that four dogs had been abandoned inside a trailer at Meadow Manor and that they looked malnourished. She said the occupants had moved out and she hadn’t seen anyone there in three days.
A Flathead County sheriff’s deputy saw a very malnourished dog in the window of the residence, and through another open window saw at least four dogs inside. He reported a very bad odor was coming from inside.
When he gave water to the dogs, they drank it as fast as he could fill the pan and he reported it was obvious that they had been without water for some time.
The temporary license plate on a vehicle in the driveway came back to Farrell, but no contact information was available.
An animal warden investigated the trailer the following day and met with the woman who had initially reported the animals. She told the warden that she found out about the dogs when her neighbor mentioned them and their puppies to her.
The two went to the trailer and picked out a puppy for their children, but after seeing how small the puppies were, the woman’s neighbor went back and took the rest of the puppies. She eventually found homes for all of them.
The warden eventually reached Farrell by phone. Farrell initially said he had been feeding the dogs every day but later changed his story, saying he only made it to the trailer to feed them every other day or so.
If convicted on all four counts, Farrell faces up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $4,000. His next hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 18.
Farrell also faces a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia following his Dec. 29, 2011, arrest on a warrant for the animal cruelty charges.
Court documents allege that when a Kalispell police officer located Farrell, he confirmed his identity and submitted to a search but said the officer wasn’t going to like what was in his pockets.
The officer found a plastic container containing a small plastic baggie of methamphetamine, an empty pen tube that was cut in half, several bands and a round metal object.
If convicted on both drug charges, Farrell faces up to 5 1/2 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,500. His next hearing in the drug case is scheduled for Feb. 15.