Libby man gets two years for possessing meth

By SUZANNE RESCH

The Western News

James William Cosgriff of Libby was sentenced Monday in Montana 19th Judicial District Court in Libby for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.

Lincoln County Attorney Marcia Boris, Adult Probation and Parole Officer Steve Watson and Cosgriff all agreed to the recommended sentence of two years with the Department of Corrections with none suspended, which Judge Matt Cuffee imposed. Cosgriff will receive credit for time served in the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Cuffe also ordered Cosgriff to pay the public defender fee of $800.

In sentencing Cosgriff, Cuffe noted that the Libby man has a long-standing history with addiction and that the sentence would provide him with the chance to rehabilitate.

Cosgriff’s felony stems from Sept. 27, 2017, when Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brad Dodson executed a warrant to search for dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia in a hotel room at The Holiday Motel in Troy. The hotel room was rented to James Cosgriff, who was found and detained for a probation violation.

While searching the hotel room, Dodson found a digital scale with methamphetamine residue, a comforter with methamphetamine residue, a glass bubble pipe, dirty syringes, other paraphernalia and a baggy with about 3.5 grams of what later tested positive for being methamphetamine.

The 3.5 grams, or 1/8 of an ounce, is commonly known as an “eight ball,” which typically sells on the street for $150 to $300. The eight ball was found in a pair of pants sitting on a duffel bag that was labeled with Cosgriff’s name.