A 39-year-old Hutchinson man managed to get 18-months probation on a 55 month sentence after being convicted of drug charges.

William Cox was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package drugs for sale, no tax stamp and personal use drug paraphernalia.

The charges coming after a search warrant was served on his home at 1215 North Washington where they found a half pound of high grade marijuana. They also found an open box of sandwich bags found near some of the marijuana, digital scales and numerous pipes with burnt residue.

In court, Judge Tim Chambers went along with the recommendations of the two sides and granted the probation, but warned Cox that he doesn’t want to see him come back to his court or he could be sent to prison. He says the case warrants prison considering his criminal past.

Cox was convicted of burglary for a case from 1992 and manufacturing and unlawful possession of a firearm from cases in 1993.