James Bell, 35, was sentenced to five years in a state penitentiary because his latest offense was committed while he was on probation for a previous crime.
Bell’s probation was revoked Feb. 29 after his arrest on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of more than one ounce of marijuana and possession of a drug related object. These were the charges that he pleaded guilty to on Tuesday.
Bell will continue his 29-year probation sentence in addition to parole once he is released from prison.
In a separate case, Steven Ray Dutton, 56, was sentenced to 10 years probation, with time served, and was ordered to pay a maximum of $1,200 restitution.
Dutton, who was taken into custody after a bench warrant was issued, was charged with theft by taking and theft by receiving. Dutton was charged in 2008 on allegations of stealing power tools from a co-worker.
Dutton told Murphy in court that he knew the victim.
“He was my friend,” Dutton said.
In another case, Kerry Lee Adams was sentenced to 12 months probation on one count of simple battery under the Family Violence Act (F.V.A.). Adams was arrested May 17, 2010, on allegations of striking his wife. He also faced a second count in the case but the district attorney’s office agreed to drop that charge in exchange for Adams’ plea and at the request of his wife.
Jesse James Peterson, 22, pleaded guilty to the charges of failure to carry license and no turn signal. He was arrested on Aug. 30, 2010. He was released from custody with time served.





