LOCAL MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS ON DRUG CHARGE
A Brenham man has been sentenced to five years in prison after he was found guilty on a drug charge in 21st District Court.
(Washington Co. Jail)
25-year old Sage Nutt was found guilty after the jury deliberated for three minutes, Wednesday. Nutt’s sentence was passed down Friday evening.
According to the District Attorney’s office, Nutt was arrested after a narcotics investigation by the Brenham Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office resulted in 3 separate purchases of hashish from May through July of 2012.
Through a confidential informant, investigators say they purchased a combined 14 grams of hashish, twice from Nutt’s residence and once while he was at a local business.
Delivery of hashish between 4 and 400 grams is a first degree felony, which carries a punishment of 5 to 99 years, or life, and a fine of up to $10,000. The jury could have recommended probation in the case.
As a person in the court room the whole time this trail was going on yes he is guilty, yes I believe he has gotten his life back in order but the state had good evidence on this case. There are 2 other cases so I believe that is why prison time was given. The state said over and over we will bring the other cases against him if he didn’t have prison time. However 1 case had no evidence. I do not think we need to waste tax payers time and money to bring the other 2 cases to trail. Another thing I heard in court is all prisoners are pretty much together in prison, that is something that needs to change. A child molester does not need to be in the same cell-group as someone with drug charges, just saying.
It’s not an aggravated assault case which you have to do half your time before you come up for parole. He will be out on parole in less than 2 years.
There are always details and circumstances that are not told in these short articles. That is why they have trials so the jury can hear all the evidence and make a decision. In this case, according to the article, they deliberated for 3 minutes and found him guilty and did not “recommend probation”. Case closed, justice was done per the system. Cases that get probation more often than not have some sort of element that the prosecution cannot build a strong case on. Such as victims not cooperating, not being credible, or a faulty investigation where evidence is not admitted. It’s better to give probation than waste a bunch of tax payer money on a trial and get a not guilty verdict. It’s just the way the system works.
As someone who normally takes a harsh view of drug crimes, I have to agree with “confused”. If he is drug free and has stayed out of trouble, a 5 year old case that results in such a long prison sentence seems like a lot when compared to the many cases we see that are more serious where people are given probation.
I don’t condone what this young man did but it is sad that this violation happened 5 years ago and he seems to have gotten his life together and has stayed out of trouble since then and now he is being sentenced to 5 years in prison when there are people who molest children and commit worse crimes in this community and get probation. Why not give him probation and fine him? If he messes up, then send him to prison?
5 years was the minimum sentence. Some quick research reveals that this person was already on probation when he committed these crimes. I’m no expert, but committing felonies while already on probation might be an indicator that someone is not a good candidate for even more probation. Nothing in the article supports assertions that he has “gotten his life together” or “stayed out of trouble,” – or the implied, and incorrect, assumption he was never in trouble before…? Is stalling and delaying the way to avoid accountability?
Research some more and you’ll find this young man HAS “gotten his life together” AND “he’s stayed out of trouble”!! I agree with “agree” and I think it’s ridiculous the crimes that are committed that get probation….molesting children is one of them, and that’s even occurred right here in this town!!!! But let’s sentence this young man to 5 years prison, that makes sense.