King gets 30 months for drug conviction

GREENVILLE – On Jan. 21 Joseph D. King was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Illegal Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs, a third degree felony.

Following King’s plea of guilty to the charge, Darke County Common Pleas Judge Jonathan Hein noted he did not see a need for a pre-sentence investigation due to the seriousness of the offense and “its impact on the victim.” He noted a combination of community control sanctions would demean the seriousness of the offender’s conduct. A prison sentence would not place an unnecessary burden on the state government resources, he added, and the risk of recidivism is likely.

The sentence was mutually recommended as a result of the offender’s plea and the state dropping two additional charges, an F2 Illegal Manufacture of Drugs and an F5 Possession of Criminal Tools. Judicial release could be requested after 18 months but will depend in part on the defendant’s conduct in prison.

King will get 111 days of local detainment credit and pay a mandatory fine of $5,000 plus court costs. Upon completion of the prison term King will be subject to optional supervision for up to three years under post release control.

Darke County Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Quigley presented the state’s case; Glen McMurray represented the defendant.

Published courtesy of The Early Bird