Man Denies Pot Charges Filed After Dog Attack

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — The father of a 7-year-old girl who was attacked by four American bulldogs on New Year's Eve has denied a felony drug charge filed after the mauling was investigated.

The Daily Inter Lake reports 30-year-old Jonathon Banonis of Red Lodge pleaded not guilty Thursday to criminal manufacture of dangerous drugs after a 71-plant marijuana grow operation was discovered in a shop on property in Creston that Banonis was subleasing to Rachael Clarke and Timothy Standiford.

The grow operation was discovered by officers investigating the dog attack on Banonis' daughter. The girl told investigators she had been in the shop with Clarke before she was attacked.

Clarke and Standiford have already pleaded not guilty to drug manufacturing charges.