HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Nearly two years ago, Reno County District Judge Trish Rose ordered the state to give 30-year-old Paul Stotts an offer that was originally given to his attorney before trial in his 2007 case.

Stotts was convicted of attempted manufacture of methamphetamine, aggravated battery and several other charges.

He entered a plea to the original offer and was sentenced to 13 ½ years as opposed to the original sentence of more than 24 years.

In his appeal, Stotts argued that his lawyer, David Holmes, never told him about an offer from the state that would have granted him less prison time. The state argued his attorney did inform him about the offer. The state said Stotts turned the offer down.

Currently, Stotts is serving roughly 25 years for the case that included a 24-minute high-speed chase through both South Hutchinson and Hutchinson. That March 26, 2007, chase ultimately ended with a crash on what is now the old K-61 Highway.

With the new sentence, Stotts could be released from prison in the near future.