Matthew Marvin Felan, 35, Minot, was given a suspended sentence and two years of supervised probation on Wednesday for exposing his three adolescent children to marijuana in August 2018 and for trying to flush the marijuana down the toilet when Ward County Narcotics Task Force officers arrived at his residence.

Felan pleaded guilty in North Central District Court in Minot to Class C felony child endangerment and to Class A misdemeanor tampering with physical evidence. The state dismissed two Class B misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Richard Hagar sentenced Felan to one year in prison on the child endangerment charge, with all suspended but the two days he has already served, and two years of supervised probation. Hagar also ordered him to pay $1,100 in court costs. Hagar sentenced him to 360 days in jail on the tampering with evidence misdemeanor, all suspended but the two days he has already served, and two years of supervised probation. The sentences are concurrent.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, the Narcotics Task Force received a call from a social worker that there were drugs at Felan’s residence. Task Force officers went to the home. A 12-year-old boy went to the door, yelled for his father, and walked back into the residence. The officers took turns knocking on the door for 15 minutes. They could overhear someone rummaging around in the garage, where the hidden marijuana had allegedly been located. Felan’s probation officer announced herself and Felan eventually opened the front door and was handcuffed. Officers searched the residence and found marijuana shaken around the toilet in the main bathroom, which was near the garage. Some of the marijuana was floating in the toilet bowl and was around the toilet seat. The officers also could smell marijuana smoke coming from inside Felan’s bedroom, where the boy was playing.