Man Allegedly Smoked Meth With Three Children Inside the Home

On Monday, two Missoula Probation and Parole Officers conducted a home visit at an apartment in the 1800 block of Wyoming Street. The probation officers had received a tip indicating there was ongoing illicit drug activity at the residence. Two Missoula Police Officers responded to the scene as well.

When they arrived, they made contact with 39-year-old Daniel Duval and an adult female. The officers also discovered that there was an infant, a toddler, and an 11-year-old child in the home too.

An officer observed that the air was hazy and there was a chemical odor, consistent with very recent methamphetamine use. He further observed multiple items of apparent drug paraphernalia in plain view around a camping chair and table in the middle of the garage. Duval told an officer that he had smoked methamphetamine in the master bathroom and a small baggie containing methamphetamine was located there.

On the counter in the master bathroom, officers located an open can of baby formula and observed some spilled on the counter and sink, consistent with preparation of a baby bottle over the sink. The officer also observed pack and play and children’s items inside the master bedroom, indicating the children had access to the master bedroom and bathroom areas.

An officer also conducted a search of the garage. Immediately inside the garage were a glass pipe, a camping chair, and a glass table. A plastic baggie containing methamphetamine was found on the arm of the camping chair. Immediately next to the camping chair and paraphernalia were baby items, including a baby rocker chair.

On the glass table next to multiple meth smoking pipes, the officer observed a toddler cup. The officer noted that the children would have been able to reach the methamphetamine as well as the paraphernalia if they were to go into the garage.

Duval was taken into custody and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. The children were removed from the home.

According to Missoula County Attorney Megan Hansen, officers also found two guns in the home.

“The defendant has at least two prior felony drug convictions from here in Flathead,” Hansen said. “He served active time in the department of corrections and went through their programming already. He is out now and smoking meth with children present while he is on probation with guns present in the residence. We would recommend bail be set in the amount of $25,000.”

Public Defender Jeff Wilson represented Duval and he provided the following statement.

“He really wants to get his kids back so he wants to get started on a treatment plan,” Wilson said. “He is willing to do drug testing. That could be daily or randomly through pretrial supervision or something through his probation officer. He has been out of custody for about two years and this is his first alleged violation in those two years. We are asking you to consider releasing him on his own recognizance with some conditions that will ensure he is sober and no kids are around potential drugs.”

Judge Landee Holloway set bail in the amount of $20,000. Duval was charged with three felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs.