Republican state lawmakers want to impeach a Salem Superior Court judge who sentenced a heroin dealer to probation this week instead of jail, saying it’s time for the jurist to go.

“This is an opportunity for the Legislature to step up and do the right thing,” said state Rep. Jim Lyons (R-Andover), who filed the resolution. “To do this in the midst of an opioid epidemic shows the judge is out of touch with reality.”

On Tuesday, Judge Timothy Q. Feeley gave admitted heroin dealer Manuel Soto-Vittini, 33, of Peabody, two years’ probation because, according to court audio of the judge, the dealer engaged in “a money crime without an addiction aspect.”

That opinion prompted an outraged Lyons to quickly submit what he called a “late-filed bill” Thursday night that must now make it through a rules committee before the House, Senate, governor and finally the Governor’s Council has a chance to vote on the measure.

“I think this does have a chance at passing,” Lyons said, adding any of the “40 bags” of heroin the dealer was caught with could have killed someone.

“The public is pretty disgusted with some of the decisions judges have been making,” said state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton), who is backing the bill. “We’re going to make sure this gains traction and others sign on.”

U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Geoff Diehl (R-Whitman) along with Reps. Kevin Kuros (R-Uxbridge), David DeCoste (R-Norwell) and Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) have also signed on.

There is also an online petition at change.org calling for Feeley’s impeachment.

The judge did not return Herald requests for comment made through the Trial Court office.

Feeley came under fire last month for lowering the bail of a man who weeks later was charged with killing a cop in Maine.

Meanwhile, the Herald has learned that Soto-Vittini’s case is now under investigation by federal immigration officials.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said “an operational team has requested certified court records of the case and are reviewing it.”

Soto-Vittini, originally from the Dominican Republic, faces deportation due to guilty pleas for dealing heroin and cocaine, according to courtroom audio.

That same audio states Salem residents called police to complain about the drug dealing on their street.