Polson man admits to damaging pot dispensary

A Polson man, accused of causing thousands of dollars in damages to a marijuana dispensary, faces a sentencing hearing in February. Chadron Thomas Martin, 26, entered a guilty plea in Polson District Court Jan. 3 to felony criminal mischief.

The guilty plea came as part of a plea agreement dismissing one count of tampering with, or fabricating, physical evidence and calls for restitution of $10,000 as well as deferring sentencing for two years, according to prosecutor Brendan McQuillan with the Lake County Attorney’s Office. Judge Molly Owen is not bound to the agreement.

According to court records, on May 17, 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 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. The store’s owner estimated damages over $100,000.

When Martin returned on May 18, he was arrested and cited for criminal trespass.

Judge Owen set sentencing for Feb. 21. Martin is at liberty until then.