A 26 year old Carmi man is due to spend the next several years behind bars after his sentencing hearing yesterday afternoon. Austin O’Dell was on probation for Obstucting Justice and a Class 4 Felony Possession of Cannabis conviction dating back to 2019 and 2018 when he committed the newest offense of being in possession of more than 5,000 grams of marijuana. His probation was subsequently revoked with concurrent sentences entered to run concurrently with the sentence in his newest conviction. State’s Attorney Denton Aud dismissed class X offenses related to possession with intent to deliver and trafficking cannabis in exchange for O’Dell’s guilty plea and joint recommended agreement. His new sentences include 6 years on the possession of cannabis, more than 5,000 grams, 6 years to run simultaneously for obstructing justice, and 3 years for possession of cannabis. O’Dell will have a year of mandatory supervised release following his incarceration. Aaron Hopkins represented O’Dell. T. Scott Webb presided over the judgement. The Southern Illinois Drug Task Force was the investigating agency responsible for arresting O’Dell in Carmi this past May.
