KINGWOOD — A Rowlesburg resident arrested on drug charges in January 2017 was sentenced Thursday in Preston Circuit Court.
Steven Ray Goff, 61, was indicted in October on five counts of delivery of a controlled substance (four Subutex, one Percocet), three counts of possession with intent to deliver (Percocet and codeine), and two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Preston Sheriff’s Deputies arrested eight Rowlesburg residents on a single day in January 2017 on drug charges after, “an extensive investigation.”
Goff pleaded guilty earlier to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to deliver and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Judge Lawrance Miller Jr. sentenced him to one to five years in prison on the first two counts, to run concurrently, and one to 15 years on the other counts, which will run concurrent to one another but consecutive to the first two counts, for a total of two to 20 years.
However, Miller suspended the sentences for five years of supervised probation, including one year of GPS monitored home confinement. Goff must pay a home confinement fee and pay all court costs within 18 months.
Miller noted the probation officer’s report recommended probation. He also took note that Goff’s only prior offenses, three misdemeanors, were more than 20 years ago.
Defense attorney William Adams said Goff suffers from agoraphobia and depression anxiety. When his mother died in 2015, Goff, “just found himself in a really dark place,” Adams said.
“I apologize,” Goff told the judge. “My life got sidetracked and I made a few mistakes. I apologize and I’m trying to do what’s right.”
“Well, that’s not selling drugs,” Miller replied. He noted Goff hadn’t mentioned his mother’s death in his interview with the probation officer but admitted he sold drugs prescribed to him.
He warned Goff to follow the rules, or he could go to prison.
