Covington Man Sentenced to Fifty Years
Thu-Apr.03 ,2008 NewsPress
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April 3, 2008
COVINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO FIFTY YEARS
An Alleghany County Jury has recommended a fifty year penitentiary sentence after convicting a Covington man of two counts of selling cocaine. Lamar Dixon, age 52, was convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with the intent to distribute for two incidents that occurred on August 10, 2006. After finding him guilty, the jury imposed a sentence of 25 years and a fine of $5000.00 for each charge.
According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed Stein the Alleghany Highlands Drug Task force purchased crack cocaine from Dixon twice on the same day using a confidential informant. The investigation was conducted by Special Agent Eddie Philpott of the Virginia State Police, Sgt. Todd Frye of the Covington Police Department and Capt. Steve Haynes of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Dept.
Stein said that it was his policy to request juries in all cases involving the sale of drugs. “Most defendants plead guilty to avoid being sentenced by a jury. The jury clearly represented the outrage that our community feels about drug dealers. It’s unfortunate that the sentencing guidelines set by the state that judges are expected to follow do not reflect the feelings of citizens”.
Stein said that Dixon will not be formally sentenced until after the preparation of a pre-sentence report. “I fully expect the Judge to follow the jury’s recommendation and impose the entire 50 year sentence”, Stein concluded.
April 3, 2008
COVINGTON MAN SENTENCED TO FIFTY YEARS
An Alleghany County Jury has recommended a fifty year penitentiary sentence after convicting a Covington man of two counts of selling cocaine. Lamar Dixon, age 52, was convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with the intent to distribute for two incidents that occurred on August 10, 2006. After finding him guilty, the jury imposed a sentence of 25 years and a fine of $5000.00 for each charge.
According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Ed Stein the Alleghany Highlands Drug Task force purchased crack cocaine from Dixon twice on the same day using a confidential informant. The investigation was conducted by Special Agent Eddie Philpott of the Virginia State Police, Sgt. Todd Frye of the Covington Police Department and Capt. Steve Haynes of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Dept.
Stein said that it was his policy to request juries in all cases involving the sale of drugs. “Most defendants plead guilty to avoid being sentenced by a jury. The jury clearly represented the outrage that our community feels about drug dealers. It’s unfortunate that the sentencing guidelines set by the state that judges are expected to follow do not reflect the feelings of citizens”.
Stein said that Dixon will not be formally sentenced until after the preparation of a pre-sentence report. “I fully expect the Judge to follow the jury’s recommendation and impose the entire 50 year sentence”, Stein concluded.