Ironwood man sentenced on drug charge

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Bessemer — An Ironwood man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to at least three years in prison on a drug charge in Gogebic County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Thomas Wayne Raymond, 37, was sentenced to between three and 10 years for possession of methamphetamine.

Judge Michael Pope singled out Raymond’s criminal record when imposing his sentence.

“Mr. Raymond was on parole at the time he committed this particular offense. But not just that, he had been out of prison for less than two months when he committed this offense,” Pope said. “His history with respect to the criminal justice system is poor to say the least. Mr. Raymond has had adequate opportunities to take advantage of services offered to him and to just simply abide by the laws.”

Raymond pleaded guilty to the possession charge in March as part of a plea agreement that had one count of using meth dismissed Tuesday.

Raymond was arrested Jan. 29 at an Ironwood motel where he was staying.

At his plea hearing, he said police responded to the room after he apparently experienced night terrors. While there, they searched the room and found a baggie with some meth residue from when he had taken the drug earlier.

Pope did acknowledge Raymond’s addiction issues, but “primarily focused on” Raymond’s repeated run-ins with the law.

“In numerous instances, Mr. Raymond has absconded and he has had his probation revoked,” Pope said. “His record speaks for itself concerning the number of felonies and concerning the number of misdemeanors (he committed).”

As Raymond was on parole at the time of his arrest, Pope said he doesn’t qualify for getting the days spent in jail prior to Tuesday deducted from his sentence.

Any additional sentence Raymond has to serve for violating his parole will be served after he completes Monday’s sentence, according to Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs.