Charles Idhen Sentenced in U.S. District Court
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on February 19, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, CHARLES IDHEN, a resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. IDHEN was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 51 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 6 years
IDHEN was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On June 4, 2007, IDHEN handed 5.8 grams of 70.9% methamphetamine or 4.1 grams of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, to a confidential informant. The distribution occurred within one thousand feet of Riverside Middle School. When arrested, IDHEN admitted to law enforcement that he had distributed methamphetamine for several years prior to his arrest.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that IDHEN will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, IDHEN does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Billings Police Department and the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office.
