Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on October 5, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:

SHANE AARON ABBOTT, a 45-year-old resident of Missoula, appeared on charges of distribution of LSD, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and distribution of marijuana. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, ABBOTT faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least 4 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and any person named as a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

 

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