Alleged meth dealer gets 8-10 years in prison

A 29-year-old man will spend at least eight to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a felony.

The charge against Steven Hill Jr. stemmed from his arrest last July, when he was pulled over while en route to complete a drug buy at the Greybull Rest Area. A subsequent search of his vehicle found multiple small, plastic baggies containing methamphetamine along with multiple used and unused needles and marijuana joints.

Hill’s sentencing took place Tuesday, March 3 in the Fifth Judicial District Court of Big Horn County.  

James Appleton Jr. represented Hill while Big Horn County Attorney Marcia Bean spoke for the state. 

Both urged Judge Bobbi Overfield to accept their sentencing recommendation.

While calling the sentence “severe” given the small amount of meth possessed, Appleton said his client had taken responsibility for his actions and would accept the court’s decision.

Appleton cited as mitigating factors a “challenging upbringing” that led to Hill entering the system at the age of 14 as well as long-term substance abuse issue.  He also reminded the court that Hill provided information that led to the arrest of another adult at the Greybull city park.

During allocution, Hill told the court he looks forward to entering a treatment program while in prison and learning self-help skills to avoid the pattern of destructive thinking that leads him to drugs.

Overfield ultimately went along with the sentencing recommendation.  Appleton asked that his client’s sentence run concurrently with any sentence he receives in Park County, where he is also facing charges.  Overfield told him that would be a decision for prosecutors and the judge in Park County.

As part of the sentence, Hill was receive credit for 220 days already served.  While no fine will be imposed, Hill will be responsible for $325 in various court costs.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a pair of misdemeanors, one alleging possession of marijuana, the other alleging possession of methamphetamine.