Red Lodge man given deferred sentence

A 30-year-old Red Lodge man was given a five-year deferred sentence Sept. 13 in Flathead District Court.

Jonathon Banonis pleaded guilty June 7 to a felony charge of criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs stemming from an incident in which his daughter was violently attacked by several American bulldogs.

After police responded to the attack, they found 71 marijuana plants in various stages of growth as well as growing equipment in a shed at the location where the attack occurred. The property was being leased by Banonis to two acquaintances, Timothy Standiford and Rachael Clarke.

In addition to his deferred sentence, Banonis was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, a $160 surcharge and a $50 presentence investigation report preparation fee.

Clarke is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 20 on amended charges of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor negligent endangerment. She originally was charged with felony criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs.

If convicted on both charges, she faces up to five years in prison, one year in the county jail and a fine of up to $51,000.

Standiford’s charges also were amended to the same two as Clarke’s, but he only pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor. He was given a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay a fine of $200 and a surcharge of $75.