Dealer linked to Kelowna

Walter James McCormick, sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession and trafficking in drugs, is linked to the Okanagan.

McCormick, 53, was born in Kelowna, and graduated from Springvalley back in 1983, when it was a secondary school.

A former classmate said he was surprised McCormick chose this path in life.

He described McCormick as "a nice guy in high school, who looked out for his friends."

McCormick was handed the unusually heavy sentence because he was found to be dealing in fentanyl.

He was one of 10 people in a police sting that uncovered a large fentanyl distribution network in the Lower Mainland.