Local man accused of gun running, meth dealing

A Flathead Valley man is facing federal gun and drug charges as well as local charges for allegedly stealing an item from a county law enforcement facility.

Joseph Vernon Holmstrom, 40, is currently lodged in the Flathead County Detention Center on $140,000 bond.

Holmstrom’s federal charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred in December 2019.

They include transportation of stolen guns, a prohibited person in possession of a firearm or ammunition, possession and transportation of a firearm while under indictment and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The maximum sentence for the offenses is 35 years.

Holmstrom and his alleged co-conspirator, Jeremy Anthony O’Canna, are accused of transporting stolen guns and ammunition from Montana to Idaho. The court document relating to the drug charge against Holmstrom stated he possessed about 1.1 pounds of methamphetamine.

Holmstrom has a pending case in Flathead County after he allegedly stole a Honda generator from a secure storage facility belonging to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

Charging documents indicate a deputy was doing surveillance of the facility when he saw a man enter the facility on Sept. 12, 2019, grab the generator and place it outside before rummaging through a vehicle. When a deputy approached the man, he was wearing a black ski mask, gloves and carried a Walkie-talkie.

Holmstrom has been charged with bail jumping on two previous occasions. One case is pending while a 2015 case was dismissed.

He also pleaded guilty by way of an Alford plea to two misdemeanor counts, assault and disorderly conduct, in relation to a 2015 case in which he was accused of firing a gun in the presence of other people during an argument.

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or at sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.