NORWICH – A man pleading for another chance at redemption fell short of the court’s expectations last week and was sent to a state penitentiary.
Kenneth F. Law III, 24, was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted 2nd degree burglary, a felony.
Law pleaded guilty to attempted burglary on Nov. 6, but sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 8. Judge W. Howard Sullivan warned Law to follow an agreed upon disposition between the time of his plea and sentencing because it would reflect the ultimate severity of the sentence. The disposition included applying for Drug Treatment Court and complying with certain restrictions of behavior and alcohol consumption. The court was forced to issue two warrants for Law before the Dec. 8 sentencing, forcing him to appear in court for violations of that disposition – one concerned the consumption of alcohol at a local bar and the other for failing to report to probation personnel.
Law apologized in court Friday and asked for another chance. He said he had just gotten engaged, his daughter’s birthday was coming up and he requested repeatedly to be given leniency. Law said he worked two jobs and wanted to save up enough cash to support his family. Law then volunteered to take a drug test but when asked by Sullivan if he would fail it, he responded by saying because his girlfriend smoked around him he may fail a drug test but he said he had not done drugs himself. The court issued a drug test and Law tested positive for marijuana. Sullivan said, “Understand if I don’t believe you (Law), considering your past.” Sullivan also told Law, “You blew it” when he asked to be placed in the drug court program.
Law was immediately taken from the courtroom in handcuffs and placed in the custody of the Chenango County Corrections. Law said he was unsatisfied with the sentence saying, “What, two years for my first felony?”