Branch man sent to jail for meth.

Christopher Smalley with his attorney, Blaine Bowne.

Branch man sent to jail for meth.

#MasonCountyCourtNews

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 28-year-old Branch Township man was sentenced to serve five months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term for convictions of methamphetamine possession and purchase or possession of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to make meth.

Christopher Lee Smalley, of 7077 E. US 10, was arrested last April by the State, Sheriffs’, Chiefs’ Enforcement of Narcotics Team (SSCENT) on felony charges of delivery of a controlled substance, operating/maintaining a meth lab, and operating/maintaining a laboratory involving hazardous waste. Those charges were dismissed when he pleaded to the lesser charges.

“What is of concern is that Mr. Smalley has had a long duration of using meth,” said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola, According to Smalley’s pre-sentence investigation (PSI) report, Smalley has used meth since he was 16 years old.

“The manufacture and creation of meth is a very risky venture. It puts law enforcement and the public at risk due to the explosive nature of the gases,” Spaniola said.

A request by Smalley’s attorney Blaine Bowne for a delayed sentence was denied by Judge Susan K. Sniegowski.

Smalley received credit for four days served in jail. He was also ordered to serve 18 months probation, and Sniegowski authorized work release.

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