Man sentenced to 10 years for battery, meth

COEUR d'ALENE - A 48-year-old Coeur d'Alene man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for felony domestic battery and possession of methamphetamine.

Bryan Dewitte was charged following an investigation by Coeur d'Alene police revealed he had hit his girlfriend numerous times and threatened to kill her, Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh said.

Upon his arrest, Dewitte was found to have a small amount of methamphetamine.

District Court Judge Fred Gibler this week ordered that the first five years of the domestic violence sentence be fixed, with the remaining five years to be determined.

Gibler ordered that the first four years of the methamphetamine possession sentence would be fixed, with the remaining three years to be determined. The sentences will be served at the same time, and Dewitte was given credit for more than 450 days already served in jail.

Dewitte has a long and significant criminal history, including felony convictions for kidnapping, battery, aggravated battery, and being an inmate in possession of a weapon, McHugh said.

He said, "The long sentence imposed by Judge Gibler is justified by numerous crimes committed by Mr. Dewitte, his pattern of drug use and domestic violence, and the need to protect the citizens of Kootenai County from Mr. Dewitte."

Dewitte also has misdemeanor convictions for driving under the influence four times, battery, disturbing the peace, obstructing an officer four times, trespassing, petit theft, possession of marijuana two times, attempting to elude police officers, assault, domestic battery and unlawful entry, McHugh said.