The Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced Monday that Christopher Macklan Hart, 26, of Coeur d’Alene, was sentenced to serve up to 10 years in state prison for two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Hart was suspected of dealing drugs in the local area when detectives from the Idaho State Police arranged a controlled buy of methamphetamine from him. On two occasions, a confidential informant working with the Idaho State Police purchased methamphetamine from Hart.

Officers discovered Hart had methamphetamine while they were arresting him Feb. 3. The amounts recovered totaled more than 80 grams.

Hart was sentenced by District Judge Cynthia Meyer, who followed the state’s recommendation for imposition of prison of 10 years. Meyer ordered the first three years would be fixed and the remaining seven years would be indeterminate.

In addition to the current offense, Hart had two prior aggravated assault convictions in addition to other misdemeanor convictions. Hart claimed his addiction caused him to sell drugs, and that he needed drug treatment.

Meyer disagreed, stating that drug dealers like Mr. Hart cause damage to our society and so incarceration in prison was appropriate to protect our community.

Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh praised the work of the Idaho State Police, who conducted the investigation, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Donna Gardner, who prosecuted the case.

“Mr. Hart’s criminal history and drug addiction indicate an inability to follow the law,” McHugh said. “Judge Meyer appropriately concluded that the risk to society was too great to grant Mr. Hart his probation request. The Department of Correction will be able to provide Mr. Hart treatment and evaluate his willingness to comply with terms of parole.”