Man pleads not guilty to felony drug charges

Appearing on Tuesday before Judge Deborah Kim Christopher for an initial appearance, Douglas D. Paige entered a not guilty plea to felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession with intent to distribute. Judge Christopher set this matter for a jury trial on April 15, 2024.

On August 15 at approximately 3 p.m., according to the filed affidavit, Sanders County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Bankhead was advised of a report of two men allegedly fighting, drinking and soon to be driving from the Wild Coyote Bar near Thompson Falls.

While patrolling just outside of Thompson Falls, Deputy Bankhead observed the suspected vehicle drive by, initiating a traffic stop. Detective April Phillips also responded. Deputy Bankhead approached the vehicle, making contact with the driver, Robin McNutt, and the passenger, Paige. Informing them of the call received regarding the two men fighting outside the bar, Deputy Bankhead questioned the two. McNutt admitted to consuming a “sip” of alcohol, but Deputy Bankhead commented on the visible six-pack of alcoholic beverages in the vehicle, which had two missing and two empty cans put back in the container. McNutt claimed the drinks belonged to Paige, and that Paige had “slammed them” right before they left the bar.

Detective Phillips reported that she spoke with Paige, who had requested to step out of the vehicle due to the heat in the car. After a cursory pat down, Detective Phillips found a large sum of money and an empty Advil container with no lid. Paige claimed the cash was from an inheritance from his mother. Deputy Bankhead observed that Paige didn’t appear intoxicated, and McNutt appeared fidgety, with bloodshot eyes and constricted pupils. McNutt was taken into custody, claiming the car belonged to Paige’s girlfriend and requesting that Paige take custody of the vehicle. Given that Paige had no valid driver’s license, the vehicle was secured and Paige transported to a hotel.

While working with Probation and Parole out of Great Falls regarding McNutt, it was advised that Paige was also on probation from Great Falls. Deputy Bankhead returned and secured the vehicle, confirming via video surveillance that the car had not been tampered with. Probation had also advised that Paige had numerous violations and requested he also be taken into custody. Upon locating Paige at the Falls Motel, officers discovered a total of $8,200 in $100 bills in an envelope, as well as another $2,285 in Paige’s wallet and $14.76 in change in the hotel room.

A search warrant for the vehicle was obtained on August 16, resulting in a blue backpack being found in the trunk with numerous alcoholic beverages, a crumpled piece of foil with burn marks, multiple cell phones, and a blue cooler. Contained within the cooler were numerous baggies, a scale, a knife with a melted substance, cigar cutter, fusion razor, and a bag of 400 apparent “mexi blue” pills, later found to contain fentanyl. A further search of the trunk also yielded four bags containing a white crystalline substance weighing about 3.98 lbs, later confirmed to be methamphetamine.

Agents from the Division of Criminal Investigation of Montana interviewed McNutt, who claimed that Paige had picked him up in Great Falls, as he needed a licensed driver. McNutt admitted that he and Paige had driven to Spokane and stayed the night, but that he had no knowledge of what took place while in Spokane.