MARION COUNTY -
A Marion County court has sentenced Sonny White, 36, formerly of Atlanta on his second appeal of a 2007 sentence.
White pled guilty in front of Judge Robert M. Clayton on March 24. A jury trial that had been scheduled for March 29-30 was cancelled.
According to court records, White was sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections for felony distribution/manufacturing of a controlled substance, 20 years for felony trafficking in drugs and seven years for felony endangering the welfare of a child. The sentences are to run concurrent.
A charge of felony unlawful use of drug paraphernalia was dismissed.
White had originally been sentenced to 57 years in prison.
According to Tim Anderson of the Missouri State Attorney General’s Office, White lost his first appeal through the Missouri State Court of Appeals.
Anderson said, the second appeal was granted because one of the jurors in White’s original trial had told attorneys during the jury selection process that he would not be an ideal jury member. He was selected to the jury anyway.
In November 2004, White was arrested by law enforcement officers with the Macon County Sheriff’s Department and the North Missouri Drug Task Force at 19052 State Highway RA, west of Atlanta.
The case was moved to Marion County on a change of venue.
