HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – A Havre woman was sentenced Monday to three years in the Department of Corrections after previously pleading guilty to two counts of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.
Priscilla Rae Strike, 35, was given two concurrent three year sentences by Hill County District Court Judge Kaydee Snipes-Ruiz. Strike also had a suspended sentence in a 2015 case revoked and was ordered to spend three years with the Department of Corrections for that offense, with credit for nine months street time and 18 days served. That will also run concurrently with the other sentences.
An affidavit filed in Hill County District Court alleged that on February 24th, 2021, Strike had a warrant for her arrest. She was in a car that was stopped by a probation officer that noticed her in the vehicle. Authorities confiscated a snort tube Strike tried to conceal and then searched her residence. They found suspected meth that was packaged in bindles looked like it was ready for distribution and heroin. The suspected heroin did test positive for heroin, but the suspected meth did not test positive for methamphetamine, leading the Tri-Agency Task Force Agent to believe it was an imitation drug. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found a substance in a vial that did test positive for methamphetamine, as well as a substance in a baggie that tested positive for heroin.
In the 2015 case, Strike pleaded guilty to the felonies of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and criminal child endangerment. She was given concurrent suspended sentences of three years with the Department of Corrections.
The court recommended that Strike be screened for entry into chemical dependency treatment or other appropriate rehabilitative programming.
As part of the plea agreement, Strike admitted to possessing meth and heroin in February 2021. Per the agreement, the felony charges of criminal possession of imitation dangerous drugs with intent to distribute and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.
The sentences handed down by Snipes-Ruiz matched the plea agreement, and she said she is hopeful Strike can become a productive member of society after addressing her treatment issues.
