COEUR d’ALENE — A 45-year-old Missoula fugitive accused of carrying five pounds of methamphetamine into Kootenai County on his way to Montana has been indicted in U.S. District Court.

Robert P. Chiefstick was charged Tuesday with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, or up to life if the perpetrator has a previous drug conviction.

Chiefstick was accompanied by Rosalyn M. Redwood, 36, of St. Ignatius, Mont. He was arrested before midnight Nov. 26 as he was leaving the parking lot of the Love’s truck stop at Pleasant View Road in Post Falls.

Deputies said Chiefstick’s black Nissan Altima did not have its headlights on, and that Chiefstick did not signal as he turned toward the interstate.

A Rathdrum Police K9 alerted on the car and police found five pounds of methamphetamine in the Altima, according to a sheriff’s office report.

Chiefstick, who is being held in the Kootenai County jail on $150,000 bail, also faces three misdemeanors in Coeur d’Alene’s First District Court.

He has pleaded not guilty to possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and for giving false information to a police officer.

He was originally charged with trafficking, but that charge was turned over to federal investigators.

Chiefstick was sentenced to five years in prison for a dangerous drugs conviction in Montana, and he was wanted on a probation violation when he rolled through Idaho last month.

A judge denied a request by Chiefstick for a public defender, but because Chiefstick said he had only $99 to his name and did not own property, including the car he was arrested in, he was granted a defense attorney at public expense.

Chiefstick initially gave police a false name. When an officer ran the information it showed a younger, smaller man, who was 5-9 and 160 pounds.

“I found this strange as Robert is 6-3 and 270 pounds,” the deputy wrote in his report.

Redwood has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanors including frequenting a place where drugs are used, and paraphernalia.