Billings Man Arraigned on Drug Charges in District Court in Sheridan

An arraignment hearing was held Thursday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for a Billings man charged with multiple felonies. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

On November 30, 2023, deputies with the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence on Country Estates Drive for a report of an individual who was passed out in a vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies found Nicholas Sampson of Billings, Montana asleep in his vehicle. A search of the vehicle yielded over 35 grams of methamphetamine and under three grams of marijuana. Sampson was placed under arrest for the alleged drug possession and booked into the Sheridan County Detention Center.

At an arraignment hearing Thursday in District Court, Sampson pleaded not guilty to the charges of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver – methamphetamine, felony possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance – marijuana. District Court Judge Ben Kirven scheduled a #1 stack, three-day jury trial to begin at 9 am on June 10. A pretrial conference will take place at 9 am on May 2. Sampson’s bond was continued under the same terms and conditions that were previously set in Circuit Court. If convicted on all three counts, Sampson faces up to 28 years in prison and fines of up to $41,000.