Idaho man pleads not guilty of trafficking fentanyl

An Idaho Falls man is accused of trafficking fentanyl into Lake County. Tyler Jeffrey Parmenter, 32, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court May 15 to criminal possession with intent to distribute and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

According to court records, on April 4 a drug agent working with authorities in Lake County received information regarding a possible drug dealer distributing drugs near a sober living facility in Pablo. The suspected dealer was driving a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with Idaho license plates, registered to Parmenter.

The agent learned that Parmenter’s driving privileges had been suspended. On April 16, the drug agent located the Jeep, and a traffic stop was made on the vehicle.

The agent obtained and executed a search warrant on the Jeep. Hidden in the vehicle’s air-filter housing, the agent found a black box containing 253 multi-colored fentanyl pills and a small baggie of methamphetamine. The agent also located an unopened container of syringes and boxes of zip-lock baggies in the Jeep.

Judge Molly Owen set a trial date of Nov. 18. Parmenter remains in the Lake County Jail with bond set at $50,000.

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