cannabeans
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This is rather interiesting and connected to this story......
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/crime/article_bb20c684-8a48-11e1-b504-0019bb2963f4.html
HELENA (AP) — One of the infamous “mountain men” who in the 1980s eluded authorities for five months by living in the wilderness is on the run from the law again — and considered “armed and dangerous.”
The U.S. attorney’s office in Montana has filed federal drug and weapons charges against Dan Nichols, who with his father was convicted in kidnapping a world class athlete in 1984, killing a would-be rescuer and hiding in the remote mountains northwest of Yellowstone National Park.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges Nichols and two other men were involved in a statewide marijuana distribution ring that netted nearly $1.8 million. The news comes as his 81-year-old father, Don, comes up for a parole hearing next week.
Federal marshals said they are now looking for the younger Nichols, who was previously wanted in state court for not appearing earlier this year on relatively minor drug charges filed after his arrest at a rock concert. The new federal charges allege a much larger conspiracy.
“He should definitely be considered armed and dangerous,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for Montana, Rod Ostermiller. “He is obviously someone who hasn’t been compliant with law enforcement in the past.”
Ostermiller wouldn’t say whether authorities believe Nichols has taken to the woods again. But he warned the public to be wary of the 5-foot-11, 150-pound Nichols.
“I think there is some definite safety issues involved regarding this individual,” the marshal said. “That is just one thing we can’t stress enough.”
The original, bizarre crime gripped the state and the nation when the father and son abducted world-class biathlete Kari Swenson in 1984 while she was on a training run in the mountains above the resort town of Big Sky. The elder Nichols was reportedly looking for a wife for his then 19-year-old son.
The so-called mountain men had been living continuously in the woods for a year prior to the abduction, growing hidden makeshift gardens, poaching game and generally staying out of sight.
The scheme quickly fell apart when would-be rescuers stumbled upon the camp. In the melee, Dan Nichols accidentally shot Swenson. An armed standoff ensued, and the elder Nichols gunned down Alan Goldstein.
The Nichols evaded capture by living in the Madison Range, until they surrendered when a Madison County sheriff caught up with them.
Swenson, despite diminished lung capacity from the gunshot wound, went on to win a bronze medal in the world biathlon championships.
The new charges against Nichols include allegations the felon illegally amassed dozens of rifles, assault weapons, pistols, and shotguns while engaged in drug crimes. Christopher Wayne Williams and Christopher Lindsey are also charged, but they are not on the run.
Federal authorities say the trio was involved in an operation that grew and sold marijuana in several Montana cities from 2006 until 2011. This came at a time when many in the state thought they were legally running medical marijuana businesses under a state law.
Federal prosecutors burst that bubble with a series of raids last spring. The charges against Nichols indicate they were involved with the Montana Caregiver’s Association, one of the now-defunct medical marijuana operations.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/crime/article_bb20c684-8a48-11e1-b504-0019bb2963f4.html
HELENA (AP) — One of the infamous “mountain men” who in the 1980s eluded authorities for five months by living in the wilderness is on the run from the law again — and considered “armed and dangerous.”
The U.S. attorney’s office in Montana has filed federal drug and weapons charges against Dan Nichols, who with his father was convicted in kidnapping a world class athlete in 1984, killing a would-be rescuer and hiding in the remote mountains northwest of Yellowstone National Park.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday alleges Nichols and two other men were involved in a statewide marijuana distribution ring that netted nearly $1.8 million. The news comes as his 81-year-old father, Don, comes up for a parole hearing next week.
Federal marshals said they are now looking for the younger Nichols, who was previously wanted in state court for not appearing earlier this year on relatively minor drug charges filed after his arrest at a rock concert. The new federal charges allege a much larger conspiracy.
“He should definitely be considered armed and dangerous,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for Montana, Rod Ostermiller. “He is obviously someone who hasn’t been compliant with law enforcement in the past.”
Ostermiller wouldn’t say whether authorities believe Nichols has taken to the woods again. But he warned the public to be wary of the 5-foot-11, 150-pound Nichols.
“I think there is some definite safety issues involved regarding this individual,” the marshal said. “That is just one thing we can’t stress enough.”
The original, bizarre crime gripped the state and the nation when the father and son abducted world-class biathlete Kari Swenson in 1984 while she was on a training run in the mountains above the resort town of Big Sky. The elder Nichols was reportedly looking for a wife for his then 19-year-old son.
The so-called mountain men had been living continuously in the woods for a year prior to the abduction, growing hidden makeshift gardens, poaching game and generally staying out of sight.
The scheme quickly fell apart when would-be rescuers stumbled upon the camp. In the melee, Dan Nichols accidentally shot Swenson. An armed standoff ensued, and the elder Nichols gunned down Alan Goldstein.
The Nichols evaded capture by living in the Madison Range, until they surrendered when a Madison County sheriff caught up with them.
Swenson, despite diminished lung capacity from the gunshot wound, went on to win a bronze medal in the world biathlon championships.
The new charges against Nichols include allegations the felon illegally amassed dozens of rifles, assault weapons, pistols, and shotguns while engaged in drug crimes. Christopher Wayne Williams and Christopher Lindsey are also charged, but they are not on the run.
Federal authorities say the trio was involved in an operation that grew and sold marijuana in several Montana cities from 2006 until 2011. This came at a time when many in the state thought they were legally running medical marijuana businesses under a state law.
Federal prosecutors burst that bubble with a series of raids last spring. The charges against Nichols indicate they were involved with the Montana Caregiver’s Association, one of the now-defunct medical marijuana operations.
