DRUG DEALER TO SERVE SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON
On December 18, 2012, Michael Allen Keen, 54, of Maxie, Virginia received a twenty two year prison sentence as a result of his distribution of drugs and violation of probation. Keen had previously pleaded guilty to distribution of hydrocodone on two separate dates in June and July 2011.
During the sentencing hearing, Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Arrington told the Court that “this case offends the Commonwealth” because Keen had previously been convicted of violent offenses such as malicious wounding and burglary and spent 14 years in a Florida prison before moving to Buchanan County in 2005, where “he began selling dope to support himself.” Arrington also pointed out to the Court that Keen had been convicted in the Buchanan County Circuit Court in 2010 of drug distribution offenses and, after having received only probation, was now back before the Court on new drug offenses.
Keen received a total sentence of twenty two years in prison and must serve seven years of this sentence behind bars before he is released to complete seven years of supervised probation as a condition of his suspended sentence.
When asked about the case, Arrington remarked that “this case is yet another example of the tough stance that my administration is taking against repeat offenders and those who choose to sell drugs out of greed and profit. Mr. Keen is a classic example of a career criminal and I was very pleased to see him get a lengthy prison sentence.”
