Man sentenced to 8-40 years in prison for smuggling meth into jail.

Timothy Lopez

Man sentenced to 8-40 years in prison for smuggling meth into jail.

#MasonCountyCrime.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 25-year-old Ludington man was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Sept. 24, to eight to 40 years in prison for convictions of delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine, prisoner in possession of methamphetamine, methamphetamine possession and fourth-offense habitual offender.

Timothy Allen Lopez, of 603 S. Washington Ave., received concurrent prison terms of eight to 40 years for the delivery conviction; 58 months to 40 years for the prisoner in possession of contraband conviction; and 13-120 months for the possession conviction.

Lopez was initially charged with six felony drug counts after it was discovered that he had concealed methamphetamine in his genital area while being admitted into the jail and then distributed it while incarcerated.

Lopez was arrested last May by Ludington police on a meth possession charge.

Corrections deputies at the jail discovered he was under the influence of drugs. They immediately locked the jail down, and eight additional deputies were called in to conduct a thorough search, said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

During Lopez’s sentencing Tuesday, both Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola and defense attorney Blaine Bowne agreed that there was a fabrication in Lopez’s pre-sentence investigation (PSI) report that indicated he put meth into a drinking cup that was involuntarily taken by an inmate. That portion of his PSI was deleted.

“The prisoner is lying that he unwittingly ingested drugs,” Bowne said. “He completely fabricated the story to get Mr. Lopez in trouble.”

“I’m an addict, and as an addict I made seriously poor choices,” Lopez told Judge Sniegowski. “I’ve been selfish and have hurt everyone who loves me.”

“Through my addiction, I was able lie and justify my actions,” he said. Lopez said he hurt his mother and his children through his actions. “I failed my children, and it hurts me to my core.”

“I would continue to destroy my life if I was released. I know I need help.” Lopez said he plans to take all the substance abuse classes he can while incarcerated.

“I will have to face other ugly truths about myself. That’s how sickening my addiction is,” he said.

Sentencing guidelines for the meth possession conviction are 0-17 months, said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski. The guidelines for the meth delivery are 84-280 months and prisoner in possession of meth are 14-58 months.

“Mr. Lopez, in this situation your possession of methamphetamine conviction is one that causes harm to yourself and your family,” said Judge Sniegowski. “Your decision to smuggle it in and then share it with other inmates puts the safety of the jail in a serious position. What you did here and by your actions – while fueled by drug use –compromised the safety of the jail.”

Lopez has four prior felonies and four previous misdemeanor convictions and a juvenile record, the judge said. “You’ve had plenty of opportunities for help. You will get a chance in prison,” she said.

Lopez received credit for 120 days served in jail.

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