Gadsden man sentenced to 28 years

James Crews

Etowah County Circuit Court Judge David Kimberley sentenced the first Etowah County defendant outside the latest sentencing guidelines Wednesday because of aggravating factors in his case.

63 year old James Crews,  was sentenced to 28 years in prison on the latest of his seven drug convictions for an offense he committed while on parole.

Deputy District Attorney Brynn Crain asked the judge to sentence Crews as a habitual offender.

Crews’ attorney asked that the court consider mitigating factors — Crews’ age and health, and his inability to appreciate the criminality of his act or conform his behavior to the law — and sentence him within the range of 24 to 104 months in prison, a maximum of about 8.5 years.

Crews told the court a couple of the charges noted in the sentencing report had been dismissed, and despite his conviction on the charges in November, he said he didn’t commit the offense, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Kimberley said he’d considered the mitigating factor of Crews’ age and health, but noted that neither of those factors kept him from the criminal activity of which he was convicted.

He cited Crews’ “long-term criminal activity” and his lack of contrition or admission of guilt.