Irvine gets 10 years for drug distribution

POLSON — Last week, Leonard James Irvine, the Ronan man accused of providing drugs, alcohol and cigarettes to teenage girls, pleaded guilty to criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and pursuant to a plea agreement will be sentenced to 25 years in the department of corrections, with 15 years suspended.

Under Montana state law, the felony charge can carry a maximum penalty of life in the state prison and a $50,000 fine.

In exchange for the plea, the state will motion the court to dismiss the other charges that Irvine faced, namely: two counts of felony distribution of dangerous drugs on or near school property.

The suspended portion of the sentence is conditional on the defendant registering as a sex offender and refraining from contact with his victims and persons under 18 years of age.

Charges against Irvine stem from a December 2010 investigation in which law enforcement officials discovered that Irvine was luring girls to his residence with offers of drugs and alcohol.

According to court documents, the first victim interviewed, a 16-year-old female, told police officers that “Uncle Leonard” had given her whiskey, cigarettes and a cell phone, and that during the school year she would visit his residence as often as twice a day.

That victim’s younger sister, 15, told police that she had smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol at Irvine’s apartment, located about a hundred yards from Ronan school property.

Another victim, who was 14 at the time she was interviewed, told police that Irvine had provided her with drugs on at least 20 occasions, and that she was now addicted to the prescription anti-anxiety medication, Klonopin.

Court documents state that a fourth victim told police she “believed the defendant was probably providing these items in hope of receiving sexual favors from the girls.”

According to the case affidavit, an administrator at Ronan High School told law enforcement officers that he had received multiple complaints from parents about Irvine.

One such parent told police that the defendant had taken nude photographs of her daughter, a minor, in exchange for pot, prescription drugs and liquor; another parent stated that Irvine passed out painkiller pills “like candy.”

When police executed a search warrant, March 4, 2011, at Irvine’s residence they found hypodermic needles, spoons covered in white residue, multiple prescription pill containers with other people’s names on them, and several pairs of female panties, including one pair that police believed would only fit a very young girl.

During an interview conducted soon after the search, Irvine admitted to being addicted to methamphetamines and to giving drugs to girls who he knew to be under 18.

“I told ‘em if you want the pills, all you gotta do is ask. I got ‘em,” Irvine told police.

He remains in the Lake County jail until sentencing, set for Aug. 17, 9 a.m. in district court.