LIMA — A 57-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison Monday in Allen County Common Pleas Court for manufacturing methamphetamine, a drug he said was “the worst drug I’ve ever done.”
James Kirtland, of Lima, was sentenced for the illegal manufacture of the drug, a first-degree felony, as well as endangering a child, a third-degree felony.
The first charge carried the six-year prison sentence, with a two-year sentence for child endangerment to run concurrently. Judge Jeffrey Reed said during the sentencing that Kirtland had been manufacturing the drug for his own use and not to sell on the street
Kirtland had previously been incarcerated in Texas for possession of the drug.
“Every time I’ve been in trouble with the law, it’s been because of meth, sir,” Kirtland said during the hearing.
Kirtland apologized to the court during his sentencing for his actions.
“I would like to apologize to the people of Allen County and this court for wasting their time for my stupidity,” he said. “The young man who was involved in this, and I will not say his name, was not supposed to be there, and he was, and it was my fault. I’ve done drugs for over 40 years of my life, but methamphetamine has been the worst drug that I’ve ever done.”
Kirtland also said he had returned to Ohio from Texas to care for his mother, which he had for 13 years, something he said he can no longer do because of his addiction.
“Unfortunately, I’ve let her down, and I probably won’t be there to finish that,” he said. “She probably won’t make it until I get out.”
Reed also included a mandatory fine of $10,000, which could be waived after filing proof of indigency.
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