Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

A Cawood man was sentenced to two years in prison in Harlan Circuit Court on Thursday.

Billy J. Hickson, 25, entered a plea of guilty on multiple charges stemming from an arrest that occurred Aug. 1.

Hickson was charged with two counts of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance and one count of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance. Court records show the events resulting in the two second-degree trafficking charges occurred on or about April 28, with the first-degree trafficking a controlled substance occurring on or about Jan. 18. All three charges are Class D felonies.

Court documents state Hickson originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During a May 3 court appearance, Hickson changed his plea to guilty.

Harlan Circuit Court Special Judge James Bowling sentenced Hickson on Thursday to two years in prison on each charge, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Hickson is also required to pay restitution in the amount of $130 on each second-degree trafficking a controlled substance charge and $145 on the first-degree trafficking a controlled substance charge, for a total of $405 in restitution. Court costs were waived.

In other court activity:

* Shawn William Whited 36, Benham, was granted probation to run for three years or until he completed drug court. Whited was charged with first-degree trafficking a controlled substance and second degree trafficking a controlled substance.

* Lack Bailey, 30, Bledsoe, was sentenced to five years in prison on a charge of burglary and required to pay restitution totalling $1,765.

* Evie Don Cox, 55, Totz, was sentenced on charges of unlawful imprisonment and terroristic threatening to one year in prison, probated for three years unsupervised.

* Brian Christopher Adams, 35, Harlan, was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of receiving stolen property and theft by deception. Adams will also be required to pay restitution in the amount of $1,900 once he is released.

* Blanche Ealy, 41, Kenvir, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and sentenced to six years in prison. Ealy was granted five years probation, supervised, and ordered to complete a long term rehabilitation program.

* Patricia Hannah was sentenced to six years in prison, probated for five years with three years to be supervised. Hannah was ordered to pay restitution totalling $400.50.