Darren Gardenhire, a cornerback for the Montana State football team for a matter of months before his indefinitely suspension, plead guilty to felony possession of dangerous drugs Wednesday, as first reported by Whitney Bermes of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Gardenhire, a talented transfer from the University of Washington, came to Montana State in January after spending the last three seasons in Seattle. In April, Gardenhire was arrested and charged with felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor criminal possession of dangerous drugs. He and fellow former MSU cornerback Naijiel Hale were both suspended indefinitely by Montana State head coach Jeff Choate immediately following the charges.
RELATED: Hale, Gardenhire arrested on drug distribution charges
Darren Gardenhire
On Wednesday in Gallatin County District Judge John Brown’s courtroom, the 20-year-old Gardenhire accepted a plea agreement to reduce the charges to felony possession rather than distribution, helping Gardenhire avoid jail time. The agreement gives Gardenhire a four-year deferred sentence, a $2,500 fine to the Missouri River Drug Task Force, 100 hours of community service and $410 in standard court fees.
“I accept responsibility for what I did,” Gardenhire said his statement to the court. “It’s just not who I am as a person. I made one bad decision that I shouldn’t have.”
According to Bermes’ tweets from Gallatin County district court Wednesday, Gardenhire’s defense lawyer Al Avignone said he has been in contact with Choate and will help Gardenhire file to be readmitted to Montana State.
“We’re very hopeful (Gardenhire) will rejoin the MSU football team as soon as he’s eligible to play again,” Avignone said in court on Wednesday.
Because of NCAA transfer rules, Gardenhire will sit out the 2017 season if reinstated regardless of the legal ramifications from Wednesday’s plea. Gardenhire and Hale both played at Washington while Choate was an assistant on Chris Petersen’s staff.
According to court documents obtained by Skyline Sports:
In February, Missouri Drug Task Force informants arranged a meeting with Hale to purchase Xanax, a powerful prescription medication given to patients with anxiety. Before the meeting, Hale told the informant to meet with “his brother” instead of Hale.
The Drug Task Force member met with Gardenhire instead, purchasing Xanax from him at a Bozeman apartment close to Montana State’s campus while other investigators watched and photographed the purchase.
Former MSU cornerback Naijiel Hale (7)
Following the purchase, investigators interviewed Gardenhire, who they said they were able to identify through the registration of his 2013 Chevy Camaro and by comparing photos taken at the scene during the initial meeting with pictures from MSU football practices. Gardenhire indicated to investigators during the initial interview that this roommate, Hale, was selling Xanax but said he was not. Officials explained to Gardenhire that he was witnessed dealing to an operative but Gardenhire would only state that he was with his roommate at the time when Hale was dealing drugs.
The documents indicate that Hale set up another meeting for multiple Xanax pills at he and Gardenhire’s apartment on Emily Drive in Bozeman in late February. The charging documents state that Hale arranged a deal at his home and sent directions to his home to the informant. Hale was present at the time of the deal but did not “actually hand the Xanax to the MRDF operative”, but instead another person delivered the drugs to the operative at the arranged location.
In April, Bozeman police served a search warrant at Hale and Gardenhire’s home, finding a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The investigators had a Bozeman Police K9 sniff both Gardenhire and Hale’s vehicles. The police indicated they could smell the odor of marijuana emanating from both vehicles. Both vehicles were seized and search warrants for the vehicles are being applied for currently.
That same morning, investigators served a search warrant at MSU student Christopher Flanagan’s 16th Avenue residence, finding 355 Xanax pills, approximately 19 grams of mushrooms, LSD, a digital scale and $315 in cash. Flanagan admitted to investigators that he was dealing Xanax in large quantities to people in Bozeman.
Montana State secondary coach Mark Orphey coaches former CB Darren Gardenhire/ by Colter Nuanez
Wednesday, Gardenhire admitted to possessing six Xanax pills. No court date has been set for Hale or Flanagan
“I made one bad decision that I shouldn’t have. I don’t think I deserve to be in jail,” Gardenhire said.
According to the Montana State student code of conduct: “MSU’s Policy prohibits the use, possession, manufacture, sale, or distribution of any illegal drugs on University property or at University sponsored, including the non-medical use of prescription drugs.”
The COC also says: “Students’ inappropriate use of prescription drugs such as to “get high”, cram for exams, or use to enhance sports, performance is a violation of MSU’s policy.”
The code of conduct has no verbiage about potential felony convictions. The felony conviction means Gardenhire’s reinstatement is up to Montana State’s Dean of Students. While in the hands of the dean, Choate is not legally allowed to comment on the situation.
Montana State opens fall camp on August 4.
