Kalispell man pleads guilty to heroin charge

 A 24-year-old Kalispell man pleaded guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court to possessing heroin with the intent to distribute.

Daniel Meaney Jr. originally was charged with two felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, felony criminal possession with intent to distribute and felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. 

In exchange for pleading guilty to the intent-to-distribute charge, the remaining charges were dropped.

During the hearing, Meaney admitted only to possession of 18.6 grams of heroin. Northwest Drug Task Force agents found Meaney and Angeline Tropp in a hotel room on May 16, 2012, with the heroin and a plastic bag containing 4.6 grams of methamphetamine, according to a court document.

The court document also alleges Tropp confessed to obtaining the heroin from a friend in California and that Meaney would sell the heroin she received.

While in jail, Meaney has been attending Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and church every week and agreed to continue drug treatment as part of his sentence. He also agreed to testify against Tropp.

Tropp pleaded not guilty on July 12 to felony charges of criminal possession with intent to distribute and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

Meaney’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9.