By Lukas Brinkerhoff

December 7, 2007 | Robert Craig Downs, 27, was sentenced to no less than one year and no more than 15 for his guilty plea to a second-degree felony charge of possession of methamphetamines. Downs was also given up to one year for a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana that he will be able to serve concurrent to his prison time.

Downs had pleaded guilty to the felony charge earlier this year. Downs told the judge he had taken steps to change his life. He said he had checked himself into a drug rehabilitation camp in Ogden and finished the two month camp, running the facility for the last month. Downs now has a full time job.

Judge Timothy R. Hanson commended Downs on the rehab camp but said that he didn't see the necessary changes. Hanson said Downs had been through drug court and that hadn't help, citing two more offenses since.

Shannon R. Demler, Downs' attorney, explained to the judge that Downs had been given a urine analysis by his father that had come back clean. He said that Downs had made strides by working full time and seeking out counseling for certain depression issues he had been dealing with. Judge Hanson agreed with the state's attorney, saying, "I am not anxious to send anyone to prison." He qualified his statement reiterating that Downs had used up all his options and he mentioned that although Downs had taken certain steps to better himself, he had not held down the full time job long enough for it to be taken into consideration. Hanson concluded that it would be best for Downs to figure things out in prison.

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