A federal judge in Texarkana ordered a defendant into custody after he entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Larry Peters Jr. appeared before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas with Texarkana attorney John Pickett on Thursday morning. Peters will be sentenced after Hickey has received a report with a punishment recommendation under U.S. federal sentencing guidelines.
Peters, 36, was noticeably upset when Hickey ordered him into custody. Pickett asked the court to release Peters on the bond set for him in June and stated that Peters has complied with all conditions since his release and is gainfully employed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyra Jenner argued that the law is clear that a defendant “shall” be taken into custody once convicted of a drug offense.
Peters was charged after selling approximately six ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential source for $2,700 at a resident in Prescott, Ark., according to Peters’ plea agreement. The drug transaction was recorded by members of the FBI and South Central Drug Task Force.
Peters faces 10 years to life in prison at sentencing.
