Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 45. CRIMES

CHAPTER 9. DANGEROUS DRUGS

Part 1. Offenses Involving Dangerous Drugs

Criminal Distribution Of Dangerous Drugs On Or Near School Property -- Penalty -- Affirmative Defense

45-9-109. Criminal distribution of dangerous drugs on or near school property -- penalty -- affirmative defense. (1) A person commits the offense of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs on or near school property if the person violates 45-9-101 in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school.

(2) Except as provided in 46-18-222, a person convicted of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs on or near school property:

(a) shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 3 years or more than life; and

(b) may be fined an amount of not more than $50,000.

(3) It is not a defense to prosecution under subsection (1) that the person did not know the distance involved.

(4) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for a violation of this section that:

(a) the prohibited conduct took place entirely within a private residence; and

(b) no person 17 years of age or younger was present in the private residence at any time during the commission of the offense.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 519, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 432, L. 1999.