The current Lincoln County Circuit Court term has concluded witha Brookhaven man sentenced to 45 years in prison on drug sale andpossession charges and other defendants sentenced on a variety offelonies, according to court records.

After being found guilty at a jury trial earlier this month,Arthur L. Gary, 31, of 210 Gulledge St., was sentenced by JudgeKeith Starrett to serve 45 years on an unlawful sale of cocainecharge and 16 years on an unlawful possession of cocaine withintent to distribute charge. The sentences are to runconcurrently.

With a prior drug-related conviction, Gary was eligible forenhanced punishment, which would double the sentence for a maximumof 60 years on the sale charge, said Diane Jones, assistantdistrict attorney. Gary will be eligible for parole after serving85 percent of the sentence.

In other court action, a change of venue has been granted in themurder trial of Joyce Godbolt, of 2851 Beard Road, Wesson. She isaccused of shooting her former husband Chris in November 1999.

Publicity surrounding the incident and Chris Godbolt’sreputation as a police officer, deputy and minister were factors inseeking the change of venue. Starrett is currently reviewing hiscourt schedule to determine a time and place for the trial, courtofficials said.

Also, a Brookhaven woman accused of obstruction of justice inher husband’s child fondling trial will have no criminal recordafter meeting conditions of a plea agreement in her case.

Starrett withheld acceptance of Sandy Earnest’s guilty pleaunder a special state statute and placed conditions on hernon-adjudicated status. Conditions for Earnest, of 205 Ave. A.,include paying a $2,000 fine, performing 40 hours of communityservice work and staying on the special status for two years.

Earnest’s husband, Curtis, was sentenced to 12 years after beingconvicted of touching, handling or feeling a child for lustfulpurposes. The conviction and the sentence are being appealed.

In other activity, defendants who pleaded guilty and weresentenced include:

* Hezekiah Ford, 48, of 210 Easley St. — three counts ofuttering forgery. He was sentenced to five years, placed in theIntensive Supervision Program or house arrest, and ordered to pay$1,346 in restitution.

* Edward Morris, 53, of 802 Delhi Dr., Trenton, Ohio — unlawfulpossession of at least five kilograms of marijuana with intent todistribute. He was sentenced to eight years suspended for fiveyears probation and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine. He was alsoordered forfeit his bond and truck.

* Meen Wood Kim, 21, of Madison, Tenn. — unlawful possession ofcocaine with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of morethan one kilogram of marijuana with intent to distribute. He wassentenced to eight years suspended for five years probation,ordered to pay a $30,000 fine and to complete an alcohol and drugtreatment program.

* David E. Windler, 49, of 1528 Plymouth Place, Glen View,Illinois — unlawful possession of at least 65 grams of marijuana.His guilty plea was withheld pending conditions of $2,000 fine, 80hours of community service work in Chicago and 18 months undernon-adjudicated status.

* Mose B. Stowers, 44, of 2798 Brignal Road — possession of afirearm by a felon. He was ordered to serve the first 90 days of aone-year sentence and to pay a $500 fine.

* Marco D. Johnson, 27, of Crystal Springs — unlawfulpossession of at least eight-tenths of a gram of cocaine. He wasordered to serve two years of a five-year sentence, with the lastthree on post release supervision. He was also ordered to pay a$3,000 fine and to obtain alcohol and drug treatment while inprison.

* Gail Lee Burris, 24, of Monticello — altering a vehicleidentification number. He was sentenced to one year in prison andordered to pay a $500 fine.