Libby man pleads guilty to drug charges

A Libby man currently in county jail for multiple drug offenses recently pleaded guilty.

Jesse J. Jungst, 44, was charged with possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and public nuisance after he was discovered naked and in possession of methamphetamine on Highway 37 just outside city limits on May 18.

Jungst was arraigned in Lincoln County District Court on June 3 and pleaded not guilty.

A July 25 court report states that at 8:02 a.m., County Officer John Davis was patrolling Kootenai River Road when he saw Jungst on his bicycle. Davis stopped Jungst, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and took him to jail.

There, a prison guard reported that he had found a small bag in a leather glove. A substance in the bag tested positive for methamphetamine. Jungst told the guard that he had been taking meth since he was 17.

He pleaded not guilty at a hearing on August 19.

But at a court hearing on September 9, Jungst pleaded guilty to illegal drug possession. A deal calls for a 5-year suspended sentence on one count and a 5-year suspended sentence on the other count.

In the first case, Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Joshua Brabo said he was called to a market on Highway 37 on May 18 at 7:58 p.m. following a call from the county's dispatch center.

There, the officer reported finding Jungst standing completely naked on the northbound lane. Brabo reported finding several items of clothing. Jungst is said to have admitted to having consumed illegal drugs.

The officer said he found a container with a white substance, a used glass pipe and a flashlight. The substance field test was positive for meth and fentanyl, the officer said.

His sentencing is scheduled for October 28.