LOGAN — A Hyde Park man was sentenced to 60 days in the Cache County Jail, avoiding up to 15 years in the Utah State Prison — at least temporarily — Tuesday in 1st District Court.

Musa Issa Abdullahi, 20, was charged with arranging distribution and distribution of a controlled substance, a 2nd degree felony, after police found him in possession of a quarter pound of marijuana in June. He was ordered to take a substance abuse evaluation, and assessed a total of $1,533 in fines.

“He was bringing marijuana into the valley, selling it not only to his friends but to others as well,” said prosecuting attorney Andrew McAdams.

Abdullahi’s attorney, Marty Moore, said his objective was to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor so his client could “move forward without a felony conviction,” but despite his negotiating with Judge Thomas Willmore, prior incidents on Abdullahi’s record convinced Willmore to maintain the charge as a felony. Those priors came in the past three years when, as a senior in high school, Abdullahi was charged with retaliation assault, and was found guilty of illegal possession of alcohol as a minor in February.

Judge Willmore suspended the prison sentence, and ruled that following his 60 days in the county jail, Abdullahi will remain on probation for 36 months and pay $40 restitution. If Abdullahi violates his probation, he’ll be subject to up to 15 years in the state prison for his crime.

Published in cooperation with the Hard News Cafe. Original story is here.