Michael Trotter sentenced to 10 years on drug charges

[September 16, 2013]  Lincoln Daily News received the following news release Friday from Logan County State's Attorney Jonathan C. Wright regarding the sentencing hearing Thursday in the case of People v. Michael Trotter, Logan County case 13-CF-12. 

(Copy)

On September 12, 2013, following a sentencing hearing, the Honorable William Yoder, Associate Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit sentenced Michael Trotter to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Trotter had been found guilty of three counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, each a class 2 felony, by a jury on July 23, 2013. The case began with a covert narcotics investigation conducted by the Lincoln Police Department using a confidential source. As a result of the investigation, the Logan County State's Attorneys' Office filed charges alleging three counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

A Class 2 felony normally carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections; however, based upon Trotter's criminal history, he was eligible for extended term sentencing which increased the possible maximum range to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The Logan County State's Attorneys' Office sought an extended term sentence and the Court adopted their recommendation of 10 years of imprisonment.

"Illegal drugs are ruining lives and decimating families. One of the statutory factors that can be considered in sentencing is deterrence. It is our hope that this sentence will have that effect and that others will be deterred from committing the same offense," stated Logan County State's Attorney Jonathan Wright.

[Text from file received from Logan County State's Attorney Jonathan C. Wright]