BLAKELY RECEIVES 15-YEAR SENTENCE

The first person to go on trial in Hardin County for methamphetamine
charges was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison.

Hardin Circuit Judge Kelly Easton followed the jury's recommendation,
giving Charles Steven Blakley the maximum sentence from his conviction
for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled
substance.

Blakley's attorney, Mike Moulton, asked Easton to give his client
probation at the sentencing.

"I recognize (Blakley) has been in trouble ... (but) he hasn't had any
problems in the past" except mostly for the methamphetamine charges of
recent years, Moulton said.

Easton replied that the methamphetamine conviction is serious and that
methamphetamine is a dangerous drug to both users and the people
around them.

"You have to look at the nature of the offense," he said. "I will
respect the verdict of the jury."

Bob Stevens, assistant Hardin County commonwealth's attorney, said his
office was pleased.

"We want to basically send a message that we're not going to tolerate
this in Hardin County," Stevens said.

Blakley still has three charges pending in Hardin Circuit Court from
other cases involving methamphetamine. Stevens said either plea
agreements will be worked out with those or Blakley will go to trial
again.

"It's just a matter of how much (prison time) he'll end up with, I
would guess," Stevens said.

Although Blakley was the first person to go on trial here for
methamphetamine-related charges, other people have made plea
agreements for manufacturing, trafficking and possession.

"I don't think (the public) realizes, for the most part, how bad of a
problem this is becoming," Stevens said.