LARNED — A Larned man has been sentenced to three years, eight months in prison for two separate drug convictions, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett said.
Jeremy Hands, 43, appeared in Pawnee County District Court last Thursday for sentencing.
Methamphetamine was found in the defendant’s vehicle following a traffic stop on Dec. 18, 2016, by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office. Hands was arrested a second time for driving while suspended on Jan. 24, at which time the PCSO again located methamphetamine.
At the sentencing, Hands requested probation, citing his completion of drug treatment while on bond. McNett opposed the request, noting the defendant’s criminal history spanning more than 20 years, and two prior failures on felony probation.
District Judge Bruce Gatterman denied the defendant’s request for probation and sentenced him to 44 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. This was a reduction from the standard sentence of 68 months.
Hands voluntarily surrendered himself to the Pawnee County Sheriff on Saturday to begin serving his sentence.