Libby man arrested on felony drug charges

William Early Cheney, 34 of Libby, was charged with two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years and six months in Montana State Prison and a maximum $100,5000 in fines. A preliminary hearing has been set for 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 14.

Lincoln County Detectives in September were undercover when detectives Brad Dodson and Nate Scofield got a call from a citizen who said they believed they had seen a drug deal just take place. The caller said they had seen someone in a red Honda participate in the deal and “within seconds” Scofield saw the red Honda cruise by, driven by Cheney.

In their unmarked vehicle, Scofield and Dodson started following Dodson and pulled him over after he allegedly made three turns without using his signal. Dispatch confirmed during the traffic stop that Cheney’s Idaho driver’s license was suspended. According to Dodson’s report, William was visibly shaken and nervous, and his eyes were sunken in and swollen. He allegedly told the detectives that he was in the process of buying the car and that no one else drove it. According to the report, Cheney’s story about who was driving the car changed when Scofield noticed a snort tube with white powdery residue on the driver’s seat. Dodson reported that Cheney then said another man had the car the night before, but the detectives arrested him anyway.

After receiving a warrant to search Cheney’s vehicle, detectives reportedly found syringes, a pen, a baggie with meth residue and six pharmaceutical pills.

As of Monday, Cheney remained in Lincoln County jail on $10,000 bail.