Man pleads guilty to 2 of 4 counts in drug cases

A 21-year-old St. Joseph man facing four separate felony drug charges pleaded guilty to two of those counts Monday in Buchanan County Circuit Court.

The other two cases are set for bench trials.

Herbert Lucas-Jackson pleaded guilty to the class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and the class B felony of trafficking drugs in the second degree.

The first charge stemmed from a police search of Mr. Lucas-Jackson’s girlfriend’s house on April 6, 2008. St. Joseph officers found crack-cocaine, several firearms and a large quantity of money in the house, according to court documents. Assistant prosecutor Robert Reinhardt said the defendant and two friends were bagging crack at the kitchen table for sale when the mother of Mr. Lucas-Jackson’s girlfriend returned home from church. After the ensuing argument, a relative called the police.

The second charge followed a police arrest of the defendant on Oct. 29, 2008, on a warrant from the first incident. Mr. Lucas-Jackson possessed at least 2 grams of crack on his person at the time of that arrest.

The other two charges are both for the delivery of crack — class B felonies, as well. Mr. Lucas-Jackson faces a bench trial in front of Judge Dan Kellogg on Dec. 22 and another in front of judge Pat Robb on Jan. 8. His sentencing before Mr. Robb for the two counts to which he pleaded guilty will be Dec. 14. The punishment ranges from five to 15 years in prison on each count.

Member of

burglary ring gets four years

Michael J. Climer became the latest member of a local burglary ring to receive prison time.

The St. Joseph man pleaded guilty to one count of felony burglary and admitted his part in two burglaries. Ten area men pleaded guilty to their part in a ring that targeted local churches, schools, businesses and schools.

Judge Pat Robb sentenced Mr. Climer to four years in prison (the crime carries a range of two to seven years in prison, one day to one year in county jail and/or a fine). But the judge said he will re-evaluate the defendant in 90 to 120 days for a release on probation.

“I see potential,” the judge said.

Mr. Climer’s private attorney, Tom McBride, told the court that his client was a follower and called his criminal action “a fluke.”

The defendant apologized for his role in the ring, saying to the judge, “I knew they were the wrong people and what I did was wrong.” Mr. Climer asked for a second chance.

After hearing his sentence, Mr. Climer sat in the jury box. The defendant, dressed in a white shirt, black tie and black slacks, sat in stark contrast to the other five defendants in the jury box, all of whom were in custody and appeared in shackles and orange jumpsuits.

R.J. Cooper compiled this report. He can be reached at rjcooper@npgco.com.