RICHARD LAFAVE

IRON MOUNTAIN — An Iron Mountain man convicted of selling methamphetamine near a school will spend a minimum of four years in prison.

Richard Lafave, 31, could serve as many as 90 years for the delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; delivery of a controlled substance on school or library property, a felony that carries two to 60 years; and maintaining a drug house, a high court misdemeanor with a two-year penalty.

Lafave was convicted as a two-time habitual offender, which increased the maximum penalty 1 1/2 times.

Defense attorney Greg Seibold said Lafave sold drugs to support his own habit and asked Dickinson County Circuit Judge Christopher Ninomiya consider a sentence at the lower end of the guideline scoring range.

Seibold also asked Ninomiya not object to Lafave’s participation in the alternative incarceration program, or boot camp, if Lafave became eligible in the future despite his habitual offender notice.

Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristin Kass acknowledged Lafave likely had strong substance abuse issues, but said by dealing drugs to support his own habit he had “made his problems other people’s problems.”

Kass asked that Ninomiya follow the recommendation in the pre-sentence investigation report.

Lafave apologized to the court, his family, the Iron Mountain school system and its students.

“The mind of a drug addict doesn’t always think appropriately,” Lafave said, adding, “Now that I am sober, I can see that more clear than ever.”

Lafave said he accepted responsibility for his actions and was ready to face the consequences, noting he planned to use his time in prison to better himself.

Ninomiya encouraged Lafave be diligent in his efforts to reform.

“If you can get clean and sober, I think you can be a really productive member of our community,” Ninomiya said.

Ninomiya had no objection to Lafave’s participation in the state alternative incarceration program after he had served three years in prison.

Lafave initially had been charged in two separate files with a total of two counts of the delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance; two counts of the delivery of a controlled substance on school or library property; and maintaining a drug house.

According to the criminal complaints, Lafave sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant July 12 and 17 in Iron Mountain. The deliveries occurred in a school zone, the complaints stated.

In exchange for Lafave’s guilty plea, the second file was dismissed.