Deal settles Vay meth case

SANDPOINT — A Spirit Lake man facing retrial for methamphetamine trafficking has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of felony drug possession.

James Leland Sawley could have been handed a lifelong prison sentence if a jury returned a guilty verdict. Instead, he faces no less than two years and no more than five years, according to the terms of a binding plea agreement.

Sawley entered an Alford plea to the meth possession charge on Wednesday. Under the terms of the plea Sawley admits no wrongdoing, but concedes he could be convicted of the crime. The plea, however, is treated no differently than a straight-up guilty plea when he is sentenced.

 Senior District Judge James R. Michaud agreed to adopt the terms of the plea agreement, court records show.

Sawley, 46, was released on his own recognizance pending sentencing on Oct. 6. He must submit to daily drug and alcohol testing and if he fails to show for sentencing, the court would be free to impose a seven-year term of incarceration, the maximum sentence for meth possession.

Sawley was charged with trafficking following the discovery of meth lab concealed in a recreational vehicle parked on family property in the 700 block of Edgemere Cutoff Road in October of last year.

Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict during Sawley’s trial in May, resulting in the declaration of a mistrial.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank argued at trial Sawley’s fingerprint was found on household jar used to collect the fruits of the lab. Chief Public Defender Isabella Robertson contended the print dated back to legitimate use of the jar and emphasized that numerous parties — including Sawley’s siblings and trespassers on ransack missions — had access to the property when the lab was found.