LONOKE -- A jury sentenced a Beebe man to 60 years in prison
Wednesday for selling less than a half-gram of methamphetamine.

Charles Dugger, 39, was sentenced after the jury deliberated for 20
minutes, Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney Lona McCastlain said.
Dugger was charged in May with delivering a controlled substance
after he sold the drug to an "informant" on a farm road outside of
Carlisle. Dugger had three prior convictions on theft-related
charges, McCastlain said. "He was facing 10 to 40 years or life," she
said. "But as a habitual offender that went up to 10 to 60 years. We
were pleased that the jury gave him 60 years."

Ron Nichols of Carlisle defended Dugger, and Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney Wade Beach prosecuted the case.

"We want to send a message to drug dealers that we are not going to
tolerate it in Lonoke County," McCastlain said.