Area man accused of drug trafficking, endangerment

A probation check led to the arrest of a Montana man with a criminal record earlier this summer. 

Dusty Hunter Dunsing, 29, of Eureka, was arrested at a Eureka home on July 24 after authorities say he had various type of illegal drugs in his possession, including fentanyl and psychedelic mushrooms, in the presence of a young girl. Law officers also reported finding nearly $6,000 in cash.

Dunsing is accused of five offenses, including four felonies.The charges are criminal endangerment, two counts of criminal possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dunsing first appeared in Lincoln County District Court and pleaded not guilty to four charges on Aug. 12.

He returned on Tuesday, Aug. 27 for arraignment on the amended charges and again pleaded not guilty. He is being held in the Lincoln County Detention Center on $75,000 bail. His next hearing is Sept. 23.

According to county deputy Michael Avila, he accompanied a probation officer to a residence on Aspen Glen Road. The defendant was laying on a bed with the girl, but went to a corner in the room when the officers entered. They said he appeared to be trying to get to the bathroom. 

The deputy found a hypodermic needle sticking out of the waistband of Dunsing’s shorts as well as a large plastic bag that Avila believed held methamphetamine. He also found two glass pipes in Dunsing’s possession. Dunsing allegedly said a blue pill was fentanyl and a brownish powder in a clear plastic baggie was fentanyl scratch.

Further searching turned up the money as well as six baggies that held a total of 113.3 grams of a substance that field tested positive for meth. 

The substances were sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for further analysis. Avila believed what he found during the search is common with the sale and distribution of narcotics.

According to Montana Department of Corrections records, Dunsing has convictions in Missoula County for intimidation and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.  

Convictions for criminal endangerment or use or possession of property subject to forfeiture may result in a 10-year term in the Montana State Prison. A conviction for intent to distribute may result in a 20-year prison term.