Donovan persuades court to seize marijuana grower's gun collection
On Monday, March 8, 2010, District Court Judge Ed McLean granted the Petition of Mineral County Sheriff Hugh Hopwood to forfeit a gun collection owned by former Mineral County resident Fred Dealaman and valued at about $10,000.
In July of 2009 Dealaman was found guilty in State District Court of Criminal Production or Manufacture of Dangerous Drugs. In May 2008 State and federal agents of the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, assisted by personnel from the Mineral County Sheriffs Department, executed a search warrant at 10 Hidden Meadow Lane near Lozeau and discovered a sophisticated marijuana growing operation involving 155 plants. Also discovered and seized was a cache of weapons including 14 rifles, a shotgun and 2 pistols.
In June of 2008 Mineral County Attorney Shaun Donovan filed a petition on behalf of Hopwood and the State of Montana charging the guns were either “fruits of” or used in, the grow operation and should be forfeited to Mineral County’s Drug Forfeiture fund.
Donovan says asset forfeiture is intended to both take the profit out of drug dealing and to support ongoing law enforcement efforts. The involved guns will be sold to a licensed firearms dealer and the proceeds shared between Mineral County and the HIDTA Task Force.
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In July of 2009 Dealaman was found guilty in State District Court of Criminal Production or Manufacture of Dangerous Drugs. In May 2008 State and federal agents of the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, assisted by personnel from the Mineral County Sheriffs Department, executed a search warrant at 10 Hidden Meadow Lane near Lozeau and discovered a sophisticated marijuana growing operation involving 155 plants. Also discovered and seized was a cache of weapons including 14 rifles, a shotgun and 2 pistols.
In June of 2008 Mineral County Attorney Shaun Donovan filed a petition on behalf of Hopwood and the State of Montana charging the guns were either “fruits of” or used in, the grow operation and should be forfeited to Mineral County’s Drug Forfeiture fund.
Donovan says asset forfeiture is intended to both take the profit out of drug dealing and to support ongoing law enforcement efforts. The involved guns will be sold to a licensed firearms dealer and the proceeds shared between Mineral County and the HIDTA Task Force.
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