Sentencing deferred for damage to pot shop

A Polson man, Chadron Thomas Martin, 27, had the imposition of sentencing on one count of felony criminal mischief deferred for two years in Polson District Court on Feb 21. Martin, who admitted to causing thousands of dollars in damage at a marijuana dispensary,  pleaded guilty to the charge during a change of plea hearing Jan. 3.

The plea was entered as part of an agreement that dismisses one count of felony tampering with, or fabricating physical evidence.

According to court records, on May 17, 2023, Deputy Dylan Moll with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a report of damage to products at a dispensary. The store’s owner indicated to Deputy Moll that she suspected it was her former employee. She indicated that Martin may have caused the damage as he had allegedly made sexual advances toward her that she rebuffed, which upset him. 

She also indicated that the business has many security doors that only she and two other employees had keys to, and Martin was one of them. The other employee witnessed Martin leave the dispensary and drive erratically around midnight the day before the damage was discovered.

The deputy observed marijuana plants cut at the stem and dying in the growing room. The deputy also observed damage to a fan and other equipment, as well as dehumidifiers. The fans had been turned off, which caused the temperature in the growing room to rise to over 100 degrees. Some fans were destroyed and had possibly been thrown against the wall. 

The store’s security camera system was locked and the password had been changed, although Martin disputes that he had anything to do with that. The store owner estimated damages over $100,000. When Martin returned on May 18, 2023, he was arrested and cited for criminal trespass.

Despite the dispensary’s damage estimate, Judge Molly Owen ordered restitution in the amount of $10,000 as agreed to by the parties in the plea agreement.