A man who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs has been sentenced to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections.

Jerry Saunders, 24,  originally also was charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, but that was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to criminal distribution.

District Judge Robert Allison also sentenced Saunders to 10 years of probation to follow his time with the corrections department. Allison recommended Saunders be placed in treatment followed by pre-release during his five-year sentence.

Saunders and Stephanie Quimby, 22, 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 two grams of heroin, two hydrocodone pills and nearly $1,100 in cash.

The pair then allegedly offered to help the agents, calling Zane Root, 22, their alleged supplier, and telling him they had $460 they owed him for heroin. He showed up within 15 minutes and was arrested.

Quimby pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy in the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and was sentenced to the Montana Department of Corrections for five years followed by 10 years of probation. She also was ordered to attend at least two self-help meetings regarding drugs or alcohol each week.

Root, 21, is charged with felony conspiracy in the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs for allegedly supplying the drugs to Quimby and Saunders and with felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs after allegedly selling heroin to a confidential informant in January 2012.

If convicted of all his charges, Root faces between two years and two consecutive life terms in prison as well as a fine of up to $100,000. He is currently released after posting a $10,000 bond in his first new case and a $50,000 bond in his second new case.

A trial in the drug supply case is set for Oct. 21, and the next hearing in the informant sale case is set for Nov. 13.