Anderson pleads guilty to drug possession, theft

A St. Ignatius man is accused of stealing a vehicle and, on three separate occasions, possessing drugs and missing court appearances related to those matters.

J. Lee Ernest Anderson, 25, entered a plea of guilty in Polson District Court Oct. 4 to felony charges of theft, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and bail jumping. The guilty pleas are part of an agreement that dismisses two counts of drug possession and one bail-jumping charge. The plea agreement calls for a total sentencing being deferred for five years. The judge is not bound by the agreement.

According to court records, on Aug. 27, 2022, a woman contacted law enforcement to report her 2015 Chevy Equinox was missing from her St. Ignatius residence. It was located in Ronan later that day.

Four people at that location were questioned by investigators. It was learned that a passenger, who accompanied Anderson to the Ronan location, was attempting to sell the Equinox for thousands of dollars less than its estimated value. That raised concerns from the prospective buyer that the Equinox may have been stolen.

The registered owner of the Equinox did not give anyone permission to sell the Equinox.

While being searched upon arrest, Anderson was in possession of a syringe loaded with heroin. Anderson was already facing two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs for possessing methamphetamine and the narcotic Buprenorphine.

The bail jumping charges stem from missing court appearances on the initial charges.

Judge Molly Owen set a sentencing date of Nov. 15. Anderson is being held at Lake County Jail with a bond totaling $75,000.