Joseph Parsons pleads guilty to dealing meth

Joseph Wade Parsons, of Thompson Falls, pleaded guilty Oct. 7 to supplying a methamphetamine derivative drug to four youth this past June at various times at his place of residence in Thompson Falls.

He pleaded guilty to four felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of minors.

After Parsons entered his plea with the assistance of public defender Britt Cotter, Judge Deborah Kim Christopher said that he would receive a 25 year sentence, 10 of which would be suspended. Formal sentencing has been set for Nov. 18.

When Parsons was arrested in July he was originally charged with nine felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly giving methamphetamine and marijuana to youth between the ages of 14 and 16.

However, as part of Parsons’ plea agreement some of the charges against him were dismissed.

According to court documents, authorities discovered what Parsons was doing when a 911 dispatcher received a call that a youth, was lying unresponsive by the railroad tracks in Thompson Falls.

The 14-year-old’s father contacted officer Dave Hedley at the Thompson Falls Police Department and told him that his son had allegedly been out drinking the night before with three other youth at Parsons’ house.

According the affidavit, the 14-year-old told his father that he had a drink of vodka and Kool-Aid and lost all memory of what happened next.

Another juvenile reportedly said that all four youth had been to Parson’s house on June 12 and shared a marijuana bong with Parsons. A 14-year-old female also admitted that she also consumed with methamphetamine with Parsons at his kitchen table.

After interviewing the four youth, officers conducted a search of Parsons’ apartment and found both methamphetamine and marijuana.

Parsons had three prior felony convictions in Washington including a drug arrest and vehicular homicide.