Libby man held on federal charges in Missoula County

A Libby man who was scheduled to be arraigned this week on drug charges saw those charges dropped last week after a district judge dismissed the charges against him.

Instead, Jeremiah Kendall, 35, of Libby, is facing federal charges in Missoula and is currently being held in Missoula County jail on $100,000 bond for felony criminal contempt as well as a federal hold with no bond set.

On Sept. 7, Lincoln County District Judge James Wheelis dismissed two charges in against Kendall in Lincoln County, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kendall was arrested after federal agents raided his home earlier this year and found more than 15 firearms in his possession, a violation of his probation.

Kendall was on probation after being convicted of several partner family member assault charges in 2006, 2008 and 2014. On Feb. 2, a judge issued a permanent order of protection against Kendall, prohibiting him from owning firearms.

On June 17, 2016, Mark Triplett, a senior special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, received a search warrant from the U.S. District Court of Montana for Kendall’s residence.

During the search, which was executed on June 23, Triplett seized 18 firearms and approximately 60 pounds of ammunition from Kendall’s home. Kendall also told Triplett about another pistol hidden in his vehicle.

Kendall was booked into Missoula County jail on July 7. On Aug. 3, he was appointed a federal public defender, Michael Donahoe to represent him in U.S. District Court of Montana.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.