20th Judicial District Court News
Martin charged with felony criminal and mischief and felony tampering
Chadron Thomas Martin, 26, Missoula, was in Judge Molly Owen’s Court on May 31 for arraignment. He was charged for one count of felony criminal mischief and one count of felony tampering with, or fabricating, physical evidence. An omnibus hearing was scheduled for Aug. 16 and a jury trial for Nov. 6.
His case stems from May 17, when a law enforcement officer responded to Morehead Lane in Polson for a report of damage to a marijuana growing operation. The business owner also alleged that Martin had made sexual advances that were rebuffed, after which Martin became upset.
According to the police report, small marijuana plants were cut and in disarray, and the door was torn off the hinges. In the main growing room, every plant was cut at the stem, and the plants were dying. All the fans, humidifiers and air regulators were turned off causing the room to overheat to over 100 degrees. Some of the fans had been destroyed, appearing to have been thrown against the wall.
The owner told the officer that Martin had knowledge of how the system worked and knew that cutting the plants in that manner would result in a total loss of product. The amount of loss was estimated at $100,000.
The business has multiple security doors that only the owner, another employee and Martin had keys to open. The other employee told the officer he saw Martin leave the garden area around 11:45 p.m. to midnight the evening before.
The owner stated that access to the security camera system was locked and the password had been changed. Martin had recently set up the system and was the only other person who knew how to operate it.
The officer contacted Martin on May 17, and told him he was not allowed to visit the business.. On May 18, Martin returned to the business and was arrested.
Erickson sentenced on felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs
John Michael Erickson, Jr., 55, Polson was in Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher’s Court for a sentencing hearing on three different cases, all felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.
The court rejected the plea agreement, since the defendant is not eligible for a deferred sentence, having already received a deferred sentence in Lake County.
Erickson was sentenced for five years, all suspended but time served, on the first two cases, and one year at the Department of Corrections with all suspended but time served on the third. He was ordered to complete a batterer’s course.