Kusener sentenced on drug charge

Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe handed down a partially suspended 10-year sentence to accused drug dealer Kimberly Kusener on May 17.

Kusener, 39, had pleaded guilty to a single felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute earlier in the month. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphernalia charge, dismiss another case against her and abstain from charging her on any other known illicit behavior.

Kusener will serve five years of the sentence behind bars. The sentence will run concurrent to any punishment she receives following the resolution of her three Idaho-based cases. Kusener waived extradition to the neighboring state during her May 17 court appearance.

Authorities began keeping an eye out for Kusener last summer after learning she was back in Montana. On probation in Idaho, she was barred from traveling across state lines, authorities said.

In November, Detective Brandon Holzer of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office got a tip from Troy Police Chief Katie Davis that Kusener had left town shortly after Holzer passed through. The detective stopped and waited for Kusener to pass before pulling her vehicle over.

A search of the car turned up marijuana, pills and two loaded needles, according to court documents. When Davis arrived to search Kusener’s person, she found 64 grams of methamphetamine tucked into her bra, court documents said.

In an interview after the stop, Kusener acknowledged that 64 grams amounted to more than what would be considered personal use, but did not divulge the names of the intended recipients.

As her case wound its way through court, Kusener dropped off the map. In December, Cuffe issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

In January, authorities found her while executing a search warrant at a Troy home. Davis had spotted Kusener’s vehicle in the rear of the home prior to the raid, court documents said.

During the search, investigators allegedly found drugs, guns and money. The resident, David Glenn Allyn, told authorities that the methamphetamine authorities turned up belonged to Kusener, according to court documents. He now also faces drug related charges in Lincoln County District Court.

Authorities found Kusener hiding in a dog kennel on the property, wearing a wig.

As part of her sentence, Kusener is to pay $500 to the Lincoln County drug forfeiture fund. The $400 already seized from her by authorities will apply toward the payment, according to court documents.