EC man receives life prison sentence in drug sale trial
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

It took a Wharton County jury less than half an hour to find an El Campo man guilty of dealing drugs and even less time to come back with a life sentence in a district court trial that ended Tuesday afternoon.

Jeffery Alan Richie, 49, of El Campo, was convicted on a charge of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, a first degree felony. A second, lesser charge, of possession of a controlled substance was dropped.

"We include both charges in the indictment in case a jury has questions about intent," District Attorney Josh McCown said. "In this case, the jury had no problem at all on count one."

The trial started on Monday with District Judge Daniel Sklar presiding. The defense was handled by Wharton Attorney Lorna Henson.

McCown said jury selection took until after the noon hour with testimony starting at 2 p.m. The case was turned over to the jury about 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday with the jury returning a guilty verdict in 25 minutes. The punishment phase started at approximately 1:30 p.m. and it took the jury about 15 minutes to return the life sentence.

McCown said the sentence was based in part on Richie's past criminal history; which includes three previous

"With those previous convictions, the minimum sentence in this case would have been 25 years," the district attorney said.

"With a life sentence, under Texas law a person is parole eligible after serving one fourth of their sentence or 15 years, whichever is shorter. But even if he's parole eligible there is no guarantee of parole. His previous convictions will play a part in that determination."

The previous convictions included one for burglary in 1978, a second burglary conviction in 1981 and a conviction for possession in 1999.

"From the time he was a teenager he's been a life-long criminal," McCown said. "And this time he received a life sentence."

McCown complimented the jury on its decision, but said that it wasn't surprising based on the nature of the offense.

"How do you argue with a life sentence - justice has been served," the D.A. said. "The citizens of Wharton County take a harsh attitude toward drug dealers and possession with intent to deliver means you're a drug dealer."

He also had positive things to say about the investigation, which was done by the Wharton County District Attorney's Drug Task Force and headed up by Sgt. Tommy Johnson of the Sheriff's Department.

"They ran the search warrant at the defendant's home (108 Olive Street in El Campo) on June 19 (2007) and found exactly what was outlined in the warrant," McCown said. "They did a great job of putting the evidence together to produce a good solid case. When law enforcement, the task force and the district attorney's office are working together, you're going to get a good case and a good conviction."