Man charged with meth possession

A 37-year-old Columbia Falls man pleaded not guilty Jan. 31 to felony drug possession and two misdemeanor drug charges after missing his arraignment one week earlier.

According to court records, Sean Kelly was arrested on Oct. 30 last year after a sheriff’s deputy responded to a domestic disturbance call at his Hodgson Road residence.

The deputy told Kelly that the Columbia Falls Police Department had a warrant out for his arrest. Kelly produced a pot pipe and said he didn’t have a Montana medical marijuana card. A subsequent search turned up a crystalline substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and a small bag of marijuana.

Kelly was charged with felony possession of dangerous drugs, misdemeanor possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He faces up to five years and a $50,000 fine if convicted.

Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison issued a bench warrant for Kelly when he failed to show up on Jan. 24.