Kalispell woman pleads guilty to felony drug charge
Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
A Kalispell woman has pleaded guilty to one of three felony drug charges filed against her after she and another man were caught selling heroin.
Stephanie Quimby, 22, pleaded guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court to conspiracy in the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs, while additional charges of criminal possession with intent to distribute and criminal possession of dangerous drugs were dismissed.
According to a court document, Quimby and Jerry Saunders, 24, sold two “points,” or two-tenths of a gram of heroin to a confidential informant working for the Northwest Drug Task Force.
A later search of Saunders allegedly turned up more than 10 grams of heroin in his pocket, while Quimby was found to have 2 grams of heroin, two hydrocodone pills and nearly $1,100 in cash.
The pair then allegedly offered to help the agents, calling 22-year-old Kalispell resident and their alleged supplier Zane Root and telling him they had $460 they owed him for heroin. He reportedly showed up within 15 minutes and was arrested.
Quimby is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where her bond is set at $25,000. She faces between two years and life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 when she is sentenced July 11.
If Saunders is convicted of all his charges, he faces between two years and life plus 20 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $100,000. His next hearing is set for April 10.
He is also currently incarcerated in the county jail, where his bond is set at $40,000.
Root is charged with felony conspiracy in the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs in connection with that case and is also facing a felony charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs after allegedly selling three points of heroin to an informant for $120 on Jan. 7, 2012.
If he is convicted of all the charges, he faces between two years and two consecutive life terms in prison, as well as a fine of up to $100,000. His next hearing in each of the cases are set for July 17.
Root is currently released after posting a $10,000 bond in his first new case and a $50,000 bond in his second new case.
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