Sentence deferred for man in case of wandering boy

A 22-year-old Kalispell man was given a five-year deferred sentence Nov. 21 in Flathead District Court.

Russell Flanigan previously pleaded guilty to felony criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. In exchange for his plea, a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia was dropped.

On Jan. 24, a woman reported to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office that she had found a boy sitting on Denver Avenue crying. The 2-year-old boy was only wearing a blue shirt and blue sweatpants, and did not have on socks, shoes or a coat despite the 13-degree temperature.

The woman brought the boy into her truck and wrapped him up in a blanket while waiting for deputies to arrive. Deputies found the boy’s footprints in the snow and followed them to an unlocked house.

Inside the house, deputies found a 10-month-old girl as well as Flanigan, who was asleep in bed. When they woke Flanigan, he was disoriented and confused. When asked if he knew where the boy was, he said, “I guess not.”

Deputies found several marijuana plants in the garage. They confirmed Flanigan does not have a medical marijuana card.

The sentence levied against Flanigan was in between that sought by Flanigan — three years deferred — and that suggested by the Flathead County Attorney’s Office — 5 1/2 years in prison. Flanigan also was given a six-month suspended sentence for the misdemeanor charge and was ordered to pay a $500 fine, an $800 public defender fee and a $235 surcharge.