A 26-year-old South Hutchinson man was granted 18-months community corrections for a conviction of being in possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and also having no Kansas drug tax stamp, but Shane Hughes will have to serve 60-days in the Reno County Jail first.

That was the sentenced handed down Monday by Judge Tim Chambers after Hughes had entered guilty pleas to the two charges including the possession of marijuana. Deputy District Tom Stanton called the drug, “high grade marijuana, used for medical purposes.” The state was seeking the maximum sentence of 16-months in prison and a prison sanction because of the alleged comment by Hughes to a detective when he was caught, “Oh well, I’ll just get community corrections.” But, also because of him not being a user, but selling drugs as his lively hood. Stanton told the court that he had 1-thousand 126-dollars on his person, as well as the roughly 940-grams of pot when he was arrested.

But, the defense counters that he does has drug issues and has taken responsibility for his actions, has steady employment, calling him a changed person. Hughes told the judge, I’m ready for it to be over, I’m done with it.” Hughes also told the judge that he didn’t mean for it to sound that he was counting on getting corrections. He says he was just asking the detectives if it was a case where he would get corrections.

Judge Chambers in sentencing Hughes told him what is working in his favor is that he has no substantial criminal history, but also told him that this won’t be a typical community corrections assignment, meaning that any violation will see him going to prison. The underlying sentence is 16-months. The case was border box, meaning the judge had the discretion to send Hughes to prison or grant him corrections.

Hughes and two other men had apparently purchased the pot in Colorado where medical marijuana is legal and were on their way back to Hutchinson when they were stopped by sheriff deputies and the Reno County Drug Unit, this in the 6900 block of what is now the old K-61 highway. The drugs had a street value of around 18-thousand, 800-dollars according to Stanton. The arrest was made in August of last year.

Also arrested in the case was 27-year-old Travis Davis and 28-year-old Dustin Goff,