HAMILTON, Mont. – A 35-year-old Hamilton man has pleaded guilty to his role in a vigilante-style beating of a man suspected of stealing marijuana and other items from a medical marijuana dispensary in Stevensville.

Jason E. Weis pleaded guilty Wednesday in Ravalli County District Court to felony charges of accountability for assault with a weapon and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute.

Weis also received a four-year deferred sentence, agreed to pay a $10,000 fine, and gave up rights to another $19,500 found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.

In addition, Weis is required to testify in other cases involving the May 4 beating of 22-year-old Beau Miller.

Deputies searching Weis’ truck found a bag containing the $19,500 in cash, a grinder for marijuana leaves, four baggies of marijuana and a .22-caliber pistol, court records said.

The attack became part of the statewide debate over Montana’s medical marijuana law.

Court records say Miller broke into the John Stone Foundation, a medical marijuana dispensary near Stevensville, to steal marijuana and other items. Jesse Shoup, of Victor, was also charged with burglary and receipt of stolen property for allegedly breaking into the dispensary.

Miller told authorities he was driven outside of town by Shoup to a place where Weis, Kory Gassman and Tracy Moser, the owner of the dispensary, were waiting. Authorities say Shoup, a disabled Iraq war veteran, lured Miller to the scene of the beating after being confronted by Moser about the burglary at the John Stone Foundation.

Authorities say Miller received a large gash on top of his head but escaped after firing several shots from a pistol.

Four of the five men have since pleaded guilty to various charges. Miller pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge. Shoup pleaded guilty to intimidation and burglary. Gassman pleaded guilty to felony counts of accountability for assault with a weapon and conspiracy to commit assault with a weapon.

The case against Moser continues. Moser is charged with assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and intimidation. He also faces a charge of conspiracy to commit felonies.

Moser’s vehicle contained a baggie with marijuana buds and a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun, investigators said.