Columbia Falls man given nine-year suspended sentence in drug case

The second of a pair of Columbia Falls residents charged after the discovery of a marijuana grow operation has been sentenced.

Timothy Wheat, 29, was given a nine-year suspended sentence by District Court Judge Robert Allison on Aug. 29.

Wheat and his girlfriend, Shawn Plummer, 20, initially were charged with two counts of criminal possession with intent to distribute, but both eventually pleaded guilty to a single count and had the second dropped.

During an Aug. 7, 2012, search at a property belonging to Wheat’s father, Northwest Drug Task Force agents found 70 marijuana plants, 224 grams of cut and drying marijuana, and equipment for growing the drug.

Wheat had reportedly told his father the grow operation was legal.

A later search of the couple’s home turned up marijuana pipes and bongs, 11 grams of marijuana and a digital scale.

Plummer previously was given a six-year deferred sentence for her conviction.