Man sentenced for drug and robbery convictions

A 29-year-old Kalispell man involved in an Oct. 3, 2011, high-speed chase was sentenced to five years in jail and five years suspended Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Joshua Rosalez pleaded guilty in January to a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute related to the chase. He also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of robbery connected to a series of incidents May 4, 2011, in which he attempted to collect a drug debt.

A felony theft charge connected to the chase and a felony assault with a weapon charge connected to the robbery were both dropped as a part of the plea agreement.

For the robbery conviction, Rosalez was sentenced to five years in jail and five years suspended. He received a concurrent five-year suspended sentence for the drug conviction. He also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

Also charged in the chase was Joshua Hermann, 23, who has pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge. Two additional felony theft charges and felony charges of drug possession and criminal endangerment were dropped as part of a plea deal. He is still awaiting sentencing.