On July 26, an Illinois judge sentenced a 44-year-old man to 12 years in prison for dealing cocaine from his Montgomery home. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $23,000.
According to Kane County authorities, officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home on the 1800 block of Candlelight Circle in November 2017. During the search, they uncovered around 255 grams of cocaine hidden in a backpack in a bedroom closet. The drugs had an estimated street value of approximately $23,000. They also discovered a scale, suspected drug packaging materials and $3,000 in cash.
The defendant pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. State law dictates that he must serve at leave 75 percent of his prison sentence before he is eligible for parole. However, he received credit for the eight months he served in jail before he was sentenced.
Individuals facing drug charges such as drug possession and drug distribution may feel frightened and alone, but they do not have to face the criminal justice system on their own. A criminal defense attorney could protect a defendant’s rights both before and during a trial and make sure he or she understands the charges. After reviewing the evidence, an attorney might also find holes in the prosecution’s case and develop a defense strategy to fight the allegations. These efforts could result in the case being dismissed or the defendant winning an acquittal at trial. They could also provide leverage to negotiate a plea deal that reduces the charges and penalties. For example, a plea deal might allow some defendants to attend a drug diversion program instead of going to prison.
Source: Montgomery Patch, “Backpack Full Of Cocaine Gets Montgomery Man Prison Time“, Shannon Antinori, Aug. 1, 2018
