St. Regis man to pay drug fine

Forty-nine year-old Donald Dean Glade, of St. Regis, was sentenced for two charges in district court on Monday, Nov. 8. Glade faced charges of resisting arrest and criminal production of dangerous drugs. In a plea agreement, Glade pled guilty to both counts back on Aug. 25. Glade initially pled not guilty at his initial appearance on Aug. 11 to both counts.

On Monday, the imposition of sentence was deferred for a period of three years for charges associated with the drugs and six months suspended on resisting arrests.

Back in June, law enforcement officers, responding to a domestic violence call, stumbled upon a pot growing operation at Glade’s residence. The officers responded to the call at around 12:30 a.m. on June 18 and said that upon arriving they discovered several marijuana plants outside the residence. Twenty-nine plants were removed.

Officers described a situation in which growing conditions were set up for the plants including blacked out windows and grow lamps. The plants were not fully mature at the time. Upon arrest, Glade fought with deputies before being taken into custody. Glade’s defense council, Kirk Krutilla, said on Nov. 8 that they were asking for a deferred sentence on the first count because of Glade’s minimal history and lack of any prior felonies. He cited that 12 of the plants were very small and with the caregiver having a card, he figured he had a right to 24.

“As far as I knew I was legal,” Glade told the judge.

Glade will be expected to pay $838 in fees and will be expected to adhere to the 30 recommendations of the presentence investigation report. Glade stated that he was in agreement with those conditions for probation in the report. County Attorney Shaun Donovan endorsed the report’s recommendations and the clarification of fines was noted.

Prior to his sentencing, Glade was released by the court on pretrial supervision.