Tribal council member faces drug charges

Chippewa Cree Business Committee member Ted Demontiney pleaded not guilty to three drug-related charges when he appeared in tribal court Tuesday.

Demontiney, a first-term member of the Business Committee, pleaded not guilty to criminal distribution and sale of prescription and dangerous drugs, criminal distribution and negligently endangering another person.

Demontiney also pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal possession of prescription and dangerous drugs. However, Chippewa Cree Tribal Judge Melody Whitford, who presided over the hearing, dismissed that charge. She said that because Demontiney had not been found with actual drugs the offense did not fit the tribal code.

Charging documents say that after failing a drug test, Darwin Sutherland, Demontiney’s nephew, said at a hearing that he had been given half a pill of a prescription narcotic painkiller, hydrocodone, by Demontiney after sustaining an injury while playing basketball. Sutherland later told the court that he did not have a prescription for the hydrocodone and that he got it from Demontiney.

Documents say he told the court Demontiney gave him only half a tablet so he would not get addicted.

The complaint did not indicate when Sutherland had been given the drug or whether or not Demontiney himself had a prescription.

Sutherland also had admitted in court to parole violations that included marijuana, methamphetamine and opioid use.  

The charging documents say parole officer Nate Morsette confirmed in his report that Sutherland had tested positive for those substances.

Both a complaint and a warrant were issued June 8 for Demontiney.

Demontiney told the court he has been released from jail on his own recognizance.

Whitford said Demontiney must check in weekly with Morsette.

Whitford said a pretrial conference will be held in two weeks to discuss scheduling, evidence and other elements of the case.