James John Mentz, 30, of Rochester was sentenced to 39 months in the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud for felony third-degree drugs-sale of a narcotic drug on Wednesday in Mower County District Court. He received credit for 188 days served.

Judge Christa M. Daily issued the sentence.

Court documents state that on May 4, 2018, narcotics officers met with a confidential reliable informant (CRI) who said he could purchase methamphetamine from Mentz. The officers searched the CRI, provided him with buy money and equipped him with an audio recording device. They then monitored him as he went to meet with Mentz at a residence in the 300 block of Fourth Street Southeast in Austin.

The CRI called the officers after meeting with Mentz to confirm that Mentz intended to meet him with the drugs. He then went to an area near Second Avenue and Fourth Street Northeast and again met with Mentz. The CRI and Mentz drove around and Mentz sold him 0.36 grams of methamphetamine. The CRI then met with the officers at a predetermined location and surrendered the drugs.

A review of Mentz’s criminal history shows prior convictions for theft, burglary and malicious punishment of a child.

In addition to the sentence, Mentz must also pay $85 in fees.