Monday, December 15, 2025
42.0°F

Joseph Parsons pleads guilty to dealing meth

Jamie Doran<br | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 17 years, 2 months AGO
by Jamie Doran<br
| October 15, 2008 12:00 AM

Joseph Wade Parsons, of Thompson Falls, pleaded guilty Oct. 7 to supplying a methamphetamine derivative drug to four youth this past June at various times at his place of residence in Thompson Falls.

He pleaded guilty to four felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of minors.

After Parsons entered his plea with the assistance of public defender Britt Cotter, Judge Deborah Kim Christopher said that he would receive a 25 year sentence, 10 of which would be suspended. Formal sentencing has been set for Nov. 18.

When Parsons was arrested in July he was originally charged with nine felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly giving methamphetamine and marijuana to youth between the ages of 14 and 16.

However, as part of Parsons’ plea agreement some of the charges against him were dismissed.

According to court documents, authorities discovered what Parsons was doing when a 911 dispatcher received a call that a youth, was lying unresponsive by the railroad tracks in Thompson Falls.

The 14-year-old’s father contacted officer Dave Hedley at the Thompson Falls Police Department and told him that his son had allegedly been out drinking the night before with three other youth at Parsons’ house.

According the affidavit, the 14-year-old told his father that he had a drink of vodka and Kool-Aid and lost all memory of what happened next.

Another juvenile reportedly said that all four youth had been to Parson’s house on June 12 and shared a marijuana bong with Parsons. A 14-year-old female also admitted that she also consumed with methamphetamine with Parsons at his kitchen table.

After interviewing the four youth, officers conducted a search of Parsons’ apartment and found both methamphetamine and marijuana.

Parsons had three prior felony convictions in Washington including a drug arrest and vehicular homicide.

ARTICLES BY JAMIE DORAN<BR

July 16, 2008 midnight

Unemployment extension may brighten local economy

Unemployment extensions could help local people down on their luck and boost the Sanders County economy.

Hot Springs hosts Homecoming
October 29, 2008 midnight

Hot Springs hosts Homecoming

It was a beautiful Friday for a Hot Springs homecoming. The sun shone, the birds chirped and the young men donned dresses for a beauty pageant. Yes, it was definitely homecoming in Hot Springs.

July 30, 2008 midnight

No child left behind test scores due soon

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) test results are expected any day now and with that comes anticipation as schools in the area wait to see whether or not they have improved from last year and what that means for their students. The school districts announced they expect to receive the results in the next week or so.