Pace

A man from Cumberland was recently sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in Harlan Circuit Court for trafficking methamphetamine on various occasions.

Calvin Pace, 29, appeared before Harlan Circuit Judge Kent Hendrickson for sentencing on Aug. 1. Pace was accompanied by his attorney, Cynthia Allison. Commonwealth’s Attorney Parker Boggs and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jonathon Lee handled the case for the state.

According to the final judgment order, Pace entered a negotiated plea of guilty on July 23, to first-degree trafficking methamphetamine (less than 2 grams methamphetamine) and first-degree persistent felony offender (enhancement), which stems from crimes committed on April 17, 2017, and Jan. 9 and Feb. 11 of 2018.

The court found imprisonment was necessary for the protection of the public because there was a substantial risk Pace would commit another crime during any period of probation/conditional discharge, stating it would unduly depreciate the seriousness of his crime. The court also ruled that Pace is in need of correctional treatment that can be provided most effective by his commitment to a correctional institution, as stated in the final judgment order.

On the above charges alone, Pace picked up five years imprisonment, which was then enhanced to 15 years, before his probation was revoked.

The state motioned for Pace’s probation to be revoked because he did not comply with the terms and conditions of his probation. Pace stipulated to the violations of his probation as part of his plea agreement; therefore, the evidentiary hearing was waived.

An additional five years was added to Pace’s 15-year sentence to run together consecutively for a total of 20 years in the Harlan County Detention Center. As part of the global plea agreement, Harlan District Court cases currently pending before the Harlan Circuit Court grand jury were dismissed.