Marijuana guilty plea lands man 5-years in state prison

Local News

December 3, 2009

By Michael Schaffer - Managing editor

An Appanoose County man arraigned in April on three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver marijuana and being a habitual offender was sentenced to state prison in November.

Gary Allen Thomas, 56, of Centerville, voluntarily entered a guilty plea to one of the possession with intent to deliver counts in August. On Nov. 20 Judge Kirk A. Daily sentenced Thomas to five years in prison and ordered him to pay a law enforcement and D.A.R.E. surcharge. The judge did impose but suspended a $750 fine and a 35 percent surcharge.

The other two possession counts, habitual offender charge and a drug paraphernalia charge were dismissed.

The three possession charges stem from his arrest on Jan. 30 by the Centerville Police Department in the 100 block of W. Van Buren. Police then accused Thomas of delivering one-half ounce of marijuana to undercover officers on Sept. 12, Nov. 26 and Dec. 31, 2008.

Appanoose County Attorney Richard Scott filed the habitual offender count on the fact Thomas has multiple previous felony convictions. Iowa court records show Thomas in 1998 pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, a class D felony, and was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended to five days on the condition he exhibited good behavior for a period of two years while on probation. In 2001, Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture less than five grams of methamphetamine, a class C felony, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 2003, Thomas pleaded guilty to second degree arson, a class C felony, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended to five years probation and one year in a residential facility.