Dare
United States v. Dare
Opinion
Opinion
BACKGROUND
On April 23, 2003, Steven Dare met several coworkers at a local bar and he drank alcohol for several hours. He stated that he was “pretty well trashed.” His younger friend Casey arrived in the bar with a person that Dare did not know. Casey UNITED STATES v. DARE 13623 explained that this person wanted to buy some marijuana. Unbeknownst to both Dare and Casey, the buyer was a drug informant working for the Montana drug task force.
The trio of Dare, Casey, and the informant drove to Dare’s home. Dare sold the informant a bag of marijuana for $200. Dare then asked if they would like to smoke some marijuana with him, but they declined. Dare then went into the next room and brought back his loaded shotgun. Dare stated that he “didn’t want any badges coming back at me for selling drugs.” Dare handed the shotgun to his friend Casey and asked him if he wanted to shoot it outside. Casey had been at Dare’s home and had discharged the shotgun with him in the past, but, on this occasion, Casey declined to shoot the shot- gun. Dare then took the shotgun to his front door, opened the door, and discharged the shotgun in the air, aiming over his wood pile.