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Man pleads guilty in drug case

Richard W. Berger of Havre pleaded guilty Monday in state District Court to a felony charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

The guilty plea was part of an agreement offered to Berger by Hill County Attorney David Rice.

The agreement calls for the dismissal of a second charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs in exchange for a plea of guilty on the first charge.

The first charge stems from an incident on Sept. 12 when Berger sold 2.2 grams of methamphetamine at his residence to a confidential informant of the Tri-Agency Task Force for $115, a criminal complaint said.

The second charge stemmed from a similar incident on Sept. 24, the complaint said.

The agreement calls for Berger to be sentenced to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections. A fine of up to $50,000 may be imposed by the judge, as well as fees and surcharges.

Rice said today that the five- year sentence was based on Berger's prior criminal record.

Berger is free on $1,000 bond and was ordered to submit to a presentence investigation with state probation and parole officers.

Sentencing was set for Jan. 31.

 

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