Authorities say Libby man brought fentanyl to area

A man Lincoln County authorities believe was dealing fentanyl in Libby is locked up in the detention center following his recent arrest.

James Taft Watts, 30, appeared in Lincoln County District Court Monday and pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of possession of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of drug paraphernalia. His bail is set at $25,000.

Watts’ next court appearance is scheduled for May 19.

Deputy County Attorney Jeff Zwang is prosecuting the case while Maury Solomon is defending Watts.

According to the narrative in charging documents by county Det. Brandon Holzer, he was working a narcotics case on Watts on March 31 after receiving information that the accused would be traveling from Washington to Libby with a load of narcotics. The officer reported he learned Watts was in the area last winter selling dangerous drugs and dealing in stolen property.

Holzer believed Watts would arrive on an Amtrak train, but the ticket was cancelled. Holzer didn’t find Watts on March 30 or 31, but he received information from street sources that he was at the Evergreen where he was allegedly using and selling fentanyl powder and someone had overdosed.

Holzer also reported that Lincoln County has been plagued with fentanyl overdoses in the last week. His sources said the powder form of fentanyl was creating overdoses and that Watts had powdered fentanyl.

After writing a search warrant, Holzer watched a room at the hotel, but didn’t see anyone come to the room. Later, Deputy Sgt. James Derryberry assembled a team of deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents and they entered Watts’ room. The defendant was cooperative and taken into custody. 

During a walk through of the room, Holzer reported seeing drug paraphernalia, including a large glass pipe on the kitchen sink with a large amount of rock/powder consistent with fentanyl.

Holzer said the room was photographed and officers collected several items of evidence, including the pipe, two needles, one loaded with a substance, a powder grinder, burnt foil, a straight glass pipe, packaging items, white powder on the bathroom vanity, a white bag with powder, a scooper and a scale, a large glass bong and white crystal meth.

Holzer reported finding 8.1 grams of meth and 5.7 grams of fentanyl. 

A conviction for possession of dangerous drugs may result in a five-year term in the Montana State Prison. A conviction for possession of drug paraphernalia may result in a six-mont sentence in the county jail.