Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

Cantu sentenced to five years for drug possession

Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local. You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.



Subscribe now to stay in the know!

Already a subscriber? Login now

Gilberto Cantu, 46, of Othello, Washington, was sentenced at District Court in Polson on Oct. 2 to the Montana State Department of Corrections for five years with no time suspended on a drug possession charge.

According to court records, on April 7, a Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal police officer observed a black Jeep with false license plates traveling on U. S. Highway 93. The driver was known to the officer to have a suspended driver’s license and was wanted on outstanding warrants. 

Following a subsequent traffic stop, Charmel Smith, the driver, was arrested. Cantu, the passenger, was observed in possession of a knife. While patting down Cantu, the officer discovered a baggie of methamphetamine that weighed in at 42 grams or about one and a half ounces.

The guilty plea came during a change of plea hearing on Aug. 14. It was part of an agreement that reduced a drug distribution charge to a possession charge. 

Sponsored by: