LOGAN — A Smithfield woman was sentenced to 0-5 years in the Utah State Prison Tuesday morning in 1st District Court.

Bridget Hallmark, 40, was charged with possession or use of a controlled substance, a 3rd degree felony, after being arrested in May. Along with her sentence, Judge Thomas Willmore also added a $5,000 fine plus a 90 percent surcharge, and stipulated that she must complete a substance abuse program at the Utah State Prison. Willmore also stated that upon completion of the program the fine and surcharge would be suspended.

“You had the opportunities given to you to not go back and use these substances,” Willmore said. “From here on out you are just going to get the max.”

Hallmark’s attorney, Brennon Fuelling, asked that she just be put on probation and ordered to complete a drug abuse program, as her history shows that she has been clean while on probation, but prosecuting attorney Andrew McAdams reminded the court that she had already been given opportunities to quit and had spent time in prison for similar charges. “The state has gone to extensive efforts to give Mrs. Hallmark every opportunity to quit,” McAdams said.

A letter was also read to Hallmark that was sent to the courts by Hallmark’s daughter, asking the judge to be strict with the penalty. “I hope you go hard on her,” the daughter wrote. “I’d rather have my mother safe in prison than dead on the street.”

Hallmark expressed her apologies in court but despite these apologies and arguments made by her attorney, the judge asked that the bailiff take her away.

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