Accused heroin supplier denies felony charges

An alleged heroin supplier pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Zane Root, 21, is charged with felony conspiracy in the criminal distribution of dangerous drugs for allegedly supplying the drug to Stephanie Quimby, 21, and Jerry Saunders, 24.

Root also is charged with felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs after allegedly selling three points of heroin to an informant for $120 on Jan. 7, 2012.

He was charged in 2009 with three felony counts of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs for allegedly selling cocaine, Ecstasy and oxycodone.

Those charges eventually were transferred into Flathead Youth Court, and all of Root’s juvenile case files have been sealed.

If Root is convicted of all his charges, he faces between two years and two consecutive life terms in prison as well as a fine of up to $100,000. He is currently released after posting $60,000 bond.

His next hearing in both cases are set for July 17.

Quimby and Saunders pleaded not guilty to their charges on March 21.