[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 29-year-old Hutchinson man who entered pleas in five cases against him was sentenced Friday afternoon to just over eight years in prison.
Arthur Adams entered “no contest” pleas in front Judge Tim Chambers with most involving the distribution or possession of drugs with the first case going back to 2012. There were also two cases where he was in possession of a firearm, one being a shotgun with the serial numbers scratched off and in another case, he was in possession of a 45-caliber handgun. Adams has a previous conviction for being in possession of drugs for a case from 2007, which makes it unlawful for him to be in possession of any type of weapon.
Both sides recommended concurrent sentencing in each case with a standard mid-range number in the sentencing grid box. In three cases, the sentences ran concurrent to each other, while the other two ran consecutive to each other and consecutive to sentence in the other three. This was all part of a negotiated plea agreement and the judge went along with the recommendation from both sides.
Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton says, as part of the agreement, he would not pursue a charge of racketeering which was one of the crimes charged earlier.
Adams will get credit for time served while awaiting sentencing as well as any good time in prison which could knock the eight year, three month sentence down.
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Two arrested on drug distribution charges
[ By FRED GOUGH ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two people arrested by law enforcement on drug distribution charges both made first appearances Friday morning.
24-year-old Kylie Berry and 30-year-old Anthony Everhart face charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell within a thousand feet of a school, possession of Alprazolam with intent to distribute within a thousand feet of a school, possession of Clonazepam, possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.
It was around 9:30 p.m. Thursday night when officers served a search warrant on a home in the 800 block of East 22nd. Officers say they located a pink purse. Inside a coin-sized baggie within the purse was a number of different pills, over 50 in quantity. They say they found three needles and a metal spoon with residue. Next to the purse was an envelope containing four baggies with a crystal-like substance. In all, it weighed a little over three grams. The substance found field tested positive for methamphetamine. All of this was actually in a vehicle at the residence.
Located in Everhart’s bedroom was a notebook officers believe contained owe sheets, a glass smoking pipe with residue and packaging materials. Officers say he had two morphine pills in his pocket which they say he tried to hide.
The residence is located within a thousand feet of Wiley Elementary School.
In court, Berry denied the purse found was hers even though it contained her driver’s license. Both Berry and Everhart asked for reductions in their bonds, but were denied by the judge.
Everhart has a bond of $42,500 and Berry is jailed on a $37,000 bond. Both will be back in court for a status hearing next Wednesday.