A 28-year-old Sun Valley woman who was accused of participation in a marijuana sale to a police confidential informant last year pleaded guilty April 5 to a lesser charge of felony possession of marijuana.
In accord with a plea agreement with the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, a felony charge of distribution of marijuana was dismissed against Cynthia Hamilton Wilson.
A separate civil case was filed against Wilson wherein Idaho State Police were seeking forfeiture of her vehicle, a 2006 Acura MDX that Wilson allegedly used in an illicit drug transaction. ISP confiscated the vehicle on Sept. 16 following Wilson's arrest on the marijuana distribution charge. The complaint filed by ISP states that Idaho law allows seizure of a vehicle involved in "illegal manufacture, distribution, dispensing or possession" of a controlled substance. The fate of the vehicle is not addressed in the plea agreement reached in the criminal case.
<
The criminal case originated on June 30 when Wilson allegedly transported a quarter pound of marijuana to a drug sale made by Frank Vincent Shields to an ISP confidential informant. Shields, 30, pleaded guilty to distribution of marijuana and was sentenced in February to up to a year incarceration in the Idaho Department of Correction rider program.
Sentencing for Wilson is scheduled for May 31. In accord with the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that she receive a five-year suspended prison sentence, spend 30 days in the Blaine County jail, be fined $1,000 and be placed on probation for three years.
According to court records, defense attorney Andrew Parnes will ask for a withheld judgment, wherein the felony conviction could be removed from Wilson's criminal record upon successful completion of probation.
Wilson remains free on $5,000 bond.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
