Man sentenced for selling cocaine

A 35-year-old Columbia Falls man received a five-year suspended sentence last week after he pleaded guilty to felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

Flathead County District Court Judge Stewart Stadler on Aug. 2 also ordered Brian Beck to pay a $2,000 fine and $400 in public defender fees.

According to court records, a confidential informant working with the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force was outfitted with an electronic transmitting device before he met with Beck on May 2, 2011, to purchase cocaine.

The CI allegedly paid Beck $250 for the cocaine. Agents then arranged for a search warrant of Beck’s pickup truck, and the CI arranged another buy in Lakeside on May 5. A search of Beck’s truck allegedly turned up a heat-sealed plastic bag filled with 28 grams of cocaine.

Beck was initially charged with felony distribution and felony possession with intent to distribute. He faced a maximum of one year to life in prison and a $50,000 fine.

The state public defender’s office at one point filed a motion to rescind the appointment of Courtney Nolan to represent Beck, but she signed the May 24 plea agreement in which the possession with intent charge was dismissed.