'Victimizing the community'

A Coeur d'Alene man was sentenced Wednesday to serve up to 10 years in state prison for multiple counts including thefts and drug charges.

Joseph C. Dunbar, 41, of Coeur d'Alene, was sentenced by District Judge Fred Gibler for conspiracy to commit burglary, three counts of grand theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine.

Dunbar entered guilty pleas to the charges May 20. The charges were filed in three different cases.

One case involved a November 2014 burglary at Lake City Junior Academy. Cash, a debit card and gift cards were stolen. When contacted by police, Dunbar was found in possession of methamphetamine and a shotgun. With prior felony convictions, Dunbar was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

A second case included a grand theft charge related to Dunbar's withdrawal of $3,850 from Wells Fargo Bank, US Bank and Numerica Credit Union after depositing checks with these institutions, knowing the checks would bounce.

The last grand theft charge resulted from Dunbar's unauthorized use of a friend's credit card to charge more than $1,000 in goods.

Dunbar has four prior felony convictions and four misdemeanor convictions. He blamed his criminal activity on his failure to take medications for mental health issues and methamphetamine use.

Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh praised the Coeur d'Alene Police Department for the investigative work on the cases, and gave Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Art Verharen kudos for the prosecution.

"Mr. Dunbar's lengthy criminal history, the extent of his recent criminal conduct, and his inability or unwillingness to take steps to avoid methamphetamine use left Judge Gibler with little choice but to sentence Mr. Dunbar to prison," McHugh said in a press release. "He will have an opportunity to attend the programs that hopefully will give him the tools necessary to avoid victimizing the community. The Bureau of Corrections is best suited to determine when he will have changed enough to be released."

Gibler ordered the first three years of the sentences would be fixed, with credit for time served.

Dunbar received the same three-year fixed plus seven-year indeterminate sentence on the grand theft and conspiracy to commit burglary charges, three years fixed and two years indeterminate on the unlawful firearms possession charge, and three years fixed and four years indeterminate on the methamphetamine charge. The sentences will run concurrently.