Meth left in the room leads to drug charges

A Libby woman is facing drug possession charges after authorities say she left methamphetamine in a motel room where she was staying.

Feryn Paige Willey, 25, is charged with a county felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Her arraignment on this charge is scheduled for Monday, October 28.

She was booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center on $10,000 bail but has since posted it. Under her release conditions, Willey is not permitted to consume or possess alcohol, dangerous drugs or weapons. She must also undergo a drug and alcohol test.

According to the charging document, Libby Police Officer Don Luthey was dispatched to a local inn on Aug. 31 after an employee reportedly found meth in a container in one of the rooms where Willey was checking in with a man later identified as Eric Gilroy became. The employee also said the couple had a dog with them. They paid an extra $15 for the dog in the room.

The next morning, an employee saw Gilroy walking two different dogs. When the employee approached Gilroy and told him he would have to pay an additional deposit for the second dog. Gilroy reportedly argued with the employee and swore at him.

Gilroy said he wouldn't pay for the second dog and the employee asked them to leave. When another employee entered the room to clean it, she reported finding illegal narcotics. The employee told Luthey that a small brass box fell to the floor as she was removing a comforter from the bed.

When the employee opened the box, she saw what she believed to be meth in a plastic bag. She didn't think another tenant had left the box in the room because it was thoroughly cleaned before the couple checked in.

Luthey collected the evidence, returned to police and weighed the white substance. A field test showed it was meth, about 0.60 grams.

The maximum sentence for possession at Montana State Prison is five years.