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Selling drugs near school lands man 25-year sentence
By Bob Holliday
bholliday@pantagraph.com
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PONTIAC -- A Chicago man convicted of drug sales near a Pontiac preschool has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The sentence was handed down Thursday by Livingston County Associate Judge Jennifer Bauknecht.

Prosecutors sought 22 years in prison for Carlos Mims, 27.

Livingston County State’s Attorney Tom Brown said he was pleased that Mims got more than prosecutors sought.

“It’s rare that a judge imposes a sentence greater than one asked by the state,” Brown said.

He said the sentence sends a message that drugs won’t be tolerated.

“This guy was a continuous problem and the 25-year sentence was richly deserved,” he said, adding that Mims had a previous drug record.

Because of his prior conviction, Mims could have received up to 30 years in prison.

Brown said a defense lawyer did not seek a specific sentence, asking instead for something closer to the minimum of six years.

Mims was convicted last month of all six drug charges facing him during a two-day jury trial in Livingston County.

The jury convicted Mims of selling cocaine to a police informant Nov. 28, Dec. 3 and Dec. 9 near Heartland Headstart on West Custer Avenue.

He was convicted of cocaine sales to a police informant on the same dates near Meadowview Court public housing on West North in Pontiac.

Two of the six convictions for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance were Class X felonies because of the quantity of drugs involved, said Brown.

Brown previously said Mim’s conviction was a “major victory” for the Livingston County Proactive Unit, a multi-agency force.

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Reader comments on this story - 9 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Thanks... wrote on May 26, 2007 9:55 AM:

" ...to the Livingston County court system, who delivered justice fairly in this case. If your neighborhoods are being made unsafe by drug dealers, you must REPORT the activity and work WITH the police if you want anything to change. Report local drug information to Task Force 6 at www.taskforce6.com "

sicken wrote on May 25, 2007 7:23 PM:

" What is the problem that law enforcement cannot go after the individuals who bring the drugs to this country. Arresting small time dealers are a waste of time and tax payers money. All of the money send to Iraq could be use to create jobs with decent pay and benefits and educate these individuals. "

????? wrote on May 25, 2007 4:22 PM:

" MICHIGAN USE TO BE OR STILL IS 1 POUND OF POT=LIFE SENTENCE "

mrd wrote on May 25, 2007 2:15 PM:

" Punishment is deserved.... but why do I have to support him in jail for the next 25 years. Would not strictly supervised probation be better? Then he could contribute to the lifecycle of tax revenue. I wonder how much it costs to house a prisoner for a year vs. educate a child. "

Jon wrote on May 25, 2007 1:37 PM:

" I remember when I was in school, they used to show us videos where some nefarious drug dealer would offer kids free drugs on their way home from school. Where are all of these mysterious free drug-giving individuals? Why can't they ever give me free drugs on my way home from work? "

dates wrote on May 25, 2007 1:22 PM:

" Nov 28 was a Tuesday, Dec 3 was Sunday, Dec 9 was a Saturday...go figure "

to: Crowded jails wrote on May 25, 2007 1:09 PM:

" You're right. Sell some drugs around preschoolers, get 25 years. Mollest preschoolers, get 25 weeks, be out in 10. "

Crowded jails... wrote on May 25, 2007 12:19 PM:

" He might as well murdered someone or rape another human, his sentence would have been lighter, thanks for crowding our jails with non-violent people. If he wasn't selling to schoolchildren, it doesn't make it a worse crime because you could see the school. Also was he baited in to the sell or did he offer the drugs, most drug dealers don’t put a gun to someone’s head and force them to buy. They don't even say if it was done on the weekend when school isn't in session. These crimes near schools and churches are just simple ploys to add another charge incase the other doesn't stick...put nonviolent drug dealers in boot camp and make them work off their crimes, put violent people in jails... "

just me wrote on May 25, 2007 7:14 AM:

" THanks,,,no slap on the wrist for this drug dealer... "
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