A 50-year-old Bonners Ferry man was sentenced Tuesday to 180  at North Idaho Correctional Institution in Cottonwood, after pleading guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine.

When Scott Bandeen completes the “New Directions” program at Cottonwood,  he will re-appear before Judge Steven Verby, who will decide whether or not Bandeen will be placed on probation or finish a 2 to 4 year prison term.

 Bandeen reportedly fell asleep at a slot machine at Kootenai River Inn in the early hours of March 12, 2008, according to court records.  He was approached by police andarrested for being in possession of 1 gram of methamphetamine.

Bandeen’s public defender Mike Waldrup told the judge that retained jurisdiction would not be the right kind of treatment for Bandeen who has a drug problem.

“He has a substance abuse problem and he is the first one to admit that,” said Waldrup.  “Basically he has a great deal of post traumatic stress due to his wife passing away.  Sometimes he has problems tracking and communicating and has a hard time conveying what he wants to be saying.”  

“I think it is obvious that my client needs some kind of treatment and I disagree with the characterization that he is a threat to society,” he continued.

Waldrup explained that one-on-one counseling would best suit Bandeen. He believes  the patience and tolerance Bandeen needs will  not be available at Cottonwood since it is in a group setting.

Waldrup asked that Bandeen attend 90 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in 90 days with three-day-a-week Narcotics Anonymous and AA meetings and a structured and lengthy probation of five or six years so he can get on track.

Boundary County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Douglas said Bandeen needs to be accountable and that the program he can get at Cottonwood would help him with that.

“It is hard for me to believe that Mr. Bandeen can’t complete retained jurisdiction, he also has to have the ability to get along in society and if he isn’t able to get along in the program at Cottonwood, how is he going to make it on probation,” said Douglas.  “Here is a chance for him to prove that he can be a good candidate for probation by completing the program.”

Bandeen told the court he was able to quit drinking by attending AA meetings 19 years ago and that he is done with the drug use.

“I guarantee I am done with the methamphetamine,” said Bandeen.  My life partner died and this whole thing has cost me the house I built for her, and everything. I guarantee I wont do the drug anymore I will attend the meetings.  I feel ashamed that I made you guys force me to do this, and that I didn’t find a way to seek this out on my own.”

“There is a lot I take into consideration when handing down sentences,” Verby said. “It is a very difficult job and I walk a fine line, the fundamental goal that is a requirement  is how do I to protect society?   I can’t send a message to the public that if you do all these things you will not have any punishment or retribution and I have to send the message to the public that they shouldn’t do it.” 

Verby xplained to Bandeen that he has to also consider rehabilitation.  Verby told Waldrup  there has been success at Cottonwood with individualized programs and if Bandeen focuses he had a good chance to successfully complete the New Directions program at Cottonwood.

He then imposed the sentence and Bandeen was taken to Boundary County Jail and awaits transfer to Cottonwood.