Tribal judge admits meth role (Wyoming)

CASPER, Wyo. -- A former Wind River Indian Reservation judge pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and prescription drugs and to threatening a federal officer.

Lynda Noah, formerly Lynda Munnell, will face a minimum of five years in federal prison when she's sentenced on June 10.

During last week's hearing, Noah seemed reluctant to admit the crimes, saying she suspected -- but didn't know -- that trips to Utah with her sister were to retrieve drugs and that when she said during a taped telephone call that a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer "ought to be shot" that it was "just a remark I made."

U.S. District Judge William Downes told Noah she shouldn't plead guilty if she didn't knowingly commit crimes, saying he was particularly troubled by her remarks about the alleged threat.

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/04/02/news/wyoming/50-meth.txt