Man sentenced on heroin charge

COEUR d’ALENE — A Coeur d’Alene man was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for trafficking heroin, according to the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office.

Loren Paul Arey, 53, was sentenced Monday by 1st District Judge John T. Mitchell, who ordered that the first four years of the sentence be fixed, with the remaining 11 years indeterminate.

Arey was credited for time served.

Arey admitted to possessing nearly 11 grams of heroin on Jan. 1, 2010.

“Imprisonment is appropriate to adequately punish Mr. Arey for his crime,” said Barry McHugh, prosecuting attorney. “Unless he is able to stop his drug use, he is a risk to any community.”

Arey has a criminal history since 1982, including violations for theft, narcotics, violent crimes and probation violations, according to the office.

Post Falls Police conducted the investigation, and attorney Art Verharen prosecuted the case.