By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
A Cedar City man was sentenced on August 5, to up to 15 years in the Utah State Prison following a plea agreement that found him guilty on two felony charges.
Fifth District Court Judge Matthew L. Bell sentenced Jacob Dean Hodson, 33, to an indeterminate term of not less than one year and not more than fifteen years for one conviction. For the other, he was sentenced to up to five years.
Both sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve them at the same time.
The court recommended that Hodson receive credit for time served and have access to treatment options while incarcerated.
Hodson was initially charged with several felonies and misdemeanors, including distribution of a controlled substance, multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
Other charges included possession of controlled substances such as marijuana and spice, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, endangerment of a child or vulnerable adult, and unlawful acquisition or possession of a financial card.
As part of the plea agreement, Hodson pled guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony, and attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a third-degree felony. The remaining charges were dropped.
According to the court documents, the Iron County Task Force began investigating Hodson in March following a controlled buy with a confidential informant.
A subsequent search of Hodson’s home uncovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, THC wax, a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and a stolen credit card.
The search also found that the bedroom shared by Hodson and his girlfriend adjoined his girlfriend’s 10-year-old child’s bedroom, with the walls between the rooms separating them.
“Drug paraphernalia was scattered throughout Hodson’s bedroom, with items accessible to the child. There was also smoking paraphernalia related to the fentanyl located in the room. Both of the adults (Jacob and girlfriend) were smoking in the bedroom,” the affidavit stated.
“Their bedroom shared a wall to the 10 year old child’s bedroom. There was paraphernalia all over the bedroom where the child had access too.”
After his arrest, Hodson admitted to police the items in the room were his and selling fentanyl “a couple of times this month.”
Court records showed Hodson has a long multi-state criminal history leading police to request at the time of his arrest that he receive no bail.
“Not only has he committed more felonies in Iron County, but he is selling and using fentanyl around a 10 year old child. Fentanyl is one of the worst drugs in the US and is responsible for hundreds of deaths,” the affidavit stated.
“He is selling this drug in the community. Due to the fact Jacob can not be a contributing member of society, having possession of a firearm when he has committed other felonies against a person, selling fentanyl and putting a 10-year-old’s health and safety at risk I am requesting no bail.”
Hodson remains in the Iron County Jail pending transfer to the Utah State Prison.