Libby man pleads not guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs

A Libby man on July 10 pleaded not guilty in 19th Judicial District Court in Libby to a charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony.

Brandon Colten Martell, 29, was charged June 23 with one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. If convicted Martell faces imprisonment for not less than two years or more than five years and may be fined not more than $50,000.

According to court documents, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Dodson was in the Rosauers parking lot when a vehicle pulled up next to him with an occupant drinking vodka. As Dodson approached the vehicle and spoke with the individuals, he identified Martell, who Dodson knew was supervised by Libby Adult Probation and Parole Officer Darell Venderhoef.

Venderhoef arrived on scene and searched Martell. He found two pills in Martells’s pocket that were identified as hydrocodone/acetaminophen, or lortab, a narcotic and schedule II controlled substance. Martell did not have a prescription for the lortab but another occupant in the vehicle did and had given Martell the two pills.

Martell had been drinking and provided a breath sample well over .08.

Martell is currently under the supervision of the Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole Bureau.

Martell appeared in 19th Judicial District Court on March 6 and entered a guilty plea to the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. He was given a deferred imposition of sentence, which is defined as the court striking the verdict or plea of guilty from the record, along with all data of the case and order that the charge or charges against the defendant be dismissed provided the defendant has completed his probationary period without any revocations or violations during time of sentence.

Martell was also prohibited from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs.