Fentanyl dealer sentenced to eight years in MSP

A Ronan woman, accused of conspiring with a man from Pasco, Wash., to bring fentanyl to Lake County for distribution, was sentenced in District Court in Polson April 17 to eight years in the Montana State Women’s Prison with three years suspended.

Dorothea Carman, 34, pled guilty to criminal possession with intent to distribute as a part of a plea agreement reached during an earlier court appearance. The case against her co-defendant, Gonzalo Valdivia Hernandez, 53, is pending.

According to court records, on Oct. 29, 2024, a law enforcement officer saw Hernandez traveling in a vehicle on U. S. Highway 93. The observing officer recognized Hernandez as being wanted for driving with a revoked or suspended license, and made a stop on his vehicle.

Hernandez was arrested and brought to the Lake County Jail. A search of the vehicle he and Carmen were in yielded 405 fentanyl pills.

Carman admitted to traveling to Pasco to purchase fentanyl after she was advised of her rights. She indicated that she would purchase 1,000 pills for a $1 each, to resell in Ronan for $20 each.

When Hernandez was booked into the Lake County Jail, he was allegedly in possession of more than $4,000 cash. When told about that, Carman allegedly said, “That’s my money.”

A request to reduce bond for Hernandez was denied after Lake County Attorney James Lapokta objected, arguing that Hernandez was likely in the United State illegally and posed a flight risk.

An interpreter was brought in to translate for Hernandez, who only understands Spanish. Judge Mercer agreed with Lapokta and maintained bail at $500,000.

Judge John A. Mercer gave Carman credit for having already served 170 days in the Lake County Jail.