Couple pleads not guilty to multiple felony drug crimes

A North Dakota couple charged with multiple felony drug crimes late last month at the Columbus Super 8 asked a judge to return the money seized at that time so they can hire an attorney.
Danielle Knoblauch and Joseph Menard Jr. each made that request at their respective initial appearance hearings last Friday in 22nd Judicial District Court. Investigators seized more than $29,000 in cash from the couple at the time of their arrest.
Judge Blair Jones denied the requests after the Stillwater County Attorney’s Office noted the money is considered to be evidence in the case.
A public defender handled the hearings.
Knoblauch, 38, and Menard, 40, each pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The drugs involved are methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, anabolic steroids and hydrocodone, according to court documents. A stolen firearm was also found in the couple’s car.
They each posted a $50,000 bail shortly after being arrested and were released from jail. Under conditions imposed by Jones Friday, they cannot leave the states of Montana and North Dakota with the written permission of the court, must abide by a 10 p.m. curfew unless working, get a job and stay away from alcohol, drugs and firearms.
According to court documents, the couple was arrested Dec. 17, 2015, after drawing the suspicion of Stillwater County Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Smith in the Columbus Town Pump. Smith, who was in full uniform, was behind the couple in line and observed them buying butane torches, lighters and food. Smith also saw Menard pay for the items with a “large bundle of cash” which Menard had to search through to find smaller bills. Smith could see several $100 dollar bills and believed Menard had approximately $2,000 of cash in his pocket, according to court documents.
Smith also noted that the couple began acting nervous when they saw him and believed they were both “under the influence of narcotics.”
The couple got into a white SUV at a gas pump and drove to the Columbus Super 8. The vehicle turned out to be a rental car and based on Smith’s training, he believed Menard and Knoblauch were possibly involved in illegal drug trafficking or were under the influence of illegal narcotics.

Smith left the area, notified Columbus police and continued to monitor the couple, who went to the Columbus Super 8.
Within approximately an hour, two fire alarms were tripped from the room where Menard and Knoblauch were staying. Police went to the room and questioned the couple, who said the fire alarms had been tripped by steam from the shower and a hot iron, according to court documents.
Menard had a Louisiana driver’s license, said he worked in North Dakota and was traveling to Las Vegas for vacation.
Knoblauch presented someone else’s driver’s license as her own and was eventually identified.
After telling the couple he suspected they were involved with drugs, they allowed Smith to search the motel room.
Found were bundles of cash totaling more than $29,000, drugs and what appeared to be a ledger used by drug dealers and users, according to court documents.
At that time the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation was called in to assist. That agent found more drugs and a stolen handgun in the SUV the couple had rented, according to court documents.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is also involved in the case and the investigation is ongoing.