Idaho drug dealer sentenced to state prison

An Idaho Falls man who admitted to drug trafficking in Lake County was sentenced Oct. 16 in Polson District Court to serve a term in Montana State Prison. Tyler Jeffrey Parmenter, 33, reached a plea agreement Aug. 28 that included a five-year joint recommendation with a three-year suspension.

According to court documents, on April 4, a drug agent working with authorities in Lake County received information about a possible drug dealer who was distributing drugs near a residential alcoholics facility in Pablo. The alleged dealer was driving a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with Idaho plates and was registered to Parmenter.

The agent learned that Parmenter's license had been revoked. On April 16, the narcotics agent located the Jeep and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The officer obtained a search warrant for the Jeep and executed a search warrant. In the Jeep's air filter housing, he found a black box containing 253 multi-colored fentanyl pills and a small bag of methamphetamine. The agent also found an unopened container of syringes and boxes of ziplock bags in the Jeep.

Judge Molly Owen presided over the case and commended Parmenter for serving 183 days in prison.