Ironwood man sentenced on drug charges

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Bessemer — An Ironwood man was sentenced to prison on drug charges in Gogebic County Circuit Court Tuesday.

David Wayne Opsahl, 45, was sentenced to between 28 and 126 months in prison for possession with intent to deliver amphetamine and 23 to 120 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine.

The two sentences will be served concurrently as stipulated by a plea agreement in the case.

Opsahl pleaded guilty to the two charges in December as part of an agreement to have three other charges — possession of meth with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess meth with intent to deliver and use of meth — dismissed Tuesday. He also pleaded guilty to a habitual offender-second offense designation, which increased his potential maximum sentence.

The possession with intent to deliver charge stems from the July search of a Tamarack Street, Ironwood, house. The search resulted in the seizure of crystal meth, prescription drugs, marijuana, ammunition and a firearm, according to a police press release at the time.

Opsahl is the last of seven defendants to be sentenced in the case.

Jeffrey Elton Schmiege was sentenced to between 15 and 30 years in prison; Jeffrey Thomas Gorecki, Ryan Reinhard and Jonathan Phillip Thomas were each sentenced to at least 10 years in prison; Jenifer Lynn Powell was sentenced to at least 75 months in prison and Jakob Wayne Applekamp was sentenced to at least 40 months in prison.

Opsahl’s second sentence came from a Dec. 12 arrest, according to Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs. He told the Globe in January the two cases were combined to simplify proceedings and make a plea agreement easier to reach.

Opsahl received a jail credit of 127 days in time served prior to sentencing.