PORT TOWNSEND – A mother of six who law enforcement described as a significant methamphetamine dealer in Jefferson County is now in prison.
Mary Ellen Hos, 34, of Quilcene was sent to Gig Harbor on Friday to serve a two-year prison term at the state Corrections Center for Women, formerly known as the Purdy Treatment Center.
Although only a small amount of drugs were found at Hos’ home upon her arrest on Dec. 23, Jefferson County Undersheriff Tim Perry described the mother of six as a major dealer.
“We’ve made arrests with more drugs, but not a dealer of this size,” Perry said.
“She sold to a lot of folks.”
Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Craddock Verser delivered the sentence at 8:30 a.m. Friday as Hos stood before him shackled and wearing orange prison pajamas in the Superior Court courtroom.
Hos pleaded guilty on Feb. 2 to two felony counts of delivery of methamphetamine and one count of possession of methamphetamine.
The sentence range she faced was between 20 and 60 months.
Jefferson County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katherine Gulmert recommended the two-year sentence.
“She admitted in her confession that part of her problem was drug addiction,” Gulmert told Judge Verser as the reason she did not request the maximum sentence.
Hos’ attorney, James Gilmore, agreed with the sentence.
“Under the circumstances of this case, we believe the offer is a fair offer,” Gilmore told Verser.
In addition to the two-year sentence, Hos must also pay $2,000 to the Jefferson County Drug Enforcement Fund, $650 in court-appointed attorney fees, $500 for victim assessment, a $125 crime lab fee, a $100 felony DNA collection fee, and she must attend drug treatment.
“You probably will even if I don’t impose it . . . I hope,” Verser said to Hos about the imposed drug treatment.
Verser asked Hos how many children she had.
“Six,” she quietly responded.
“I can only say you should have thought of them before you got involved in all this,” Verser said.
Hos was fingerprinted in the courtroom before being ushered out by Jefferson County correction officers.
Gulmert said Hos was on a bus heading for the state prison for women on Friday afternoon.