Meth dealer to serve 4 years

Robert J. Matthews, 45, of Coeur d'Alene, was sentenced to prison Tuesday for four counts of methamphetamine delivery. District Judge John Mitchell sentenced Matthews to serve one year on each count, plus as much as 10 years indeterminate for each count, with the sentences to run consecutively.

"Mr. Matthews' criminal history, plus the offenses for which he was sentenced, indicate an unwillingness to stop dealing in methamphetamine. He was not an appropriate risk for probation," said Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh, in a press release. "Judge Mitchell's sentence will allow Mr. Matthews the opportunity to demonstrate to the Bureau of Corrections that he can be trusted on parole. If he is unable to do so, society will be protected from his criminal conduct for many years."

Matthews pleaded guilty Feb. 19 to the charges, which stemmed from a series of methamphetamine sales to a confidential informant working with law enforcement officers.

Matthews has an extensive criminal history, including 26 misdemeanor and two felony convictions, including a prior methamphetamine trafficking conviction for which he served prison time.