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By AMALIA KORTRIGHT/Staff Writer

 

COLUMBIANA – A Jemison man will spend 15 years in prison after he recently pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine in Columbiana.

Silvano Guevara-Mata, 31, who lists an address on Chilton County 123, pleaded guilty to the charge on Friday, June 8. Because Guevara-Mata pleaded guilty, he waived his right to a jury trial.

As part of his sentence, Guevara-Mata was ordered to pay $500 to the Fair Trial Tax Fund, a $30 jail housing fee and a $250,000 fine.

Under the Demand Reduction Act, Guevara-Mata was ordered to complete a substance abuse treatment program, pay a $1,000 fee and pay $100 to the Forensic Science Trust Fund.

Guevara-Mata was initially arrested on April 28, 2017, and charged with attempting to sell more than 28 grams of methamphetamine while at or near Gould Road in Columbiana.

According to the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the drugs, which carried an estimated value of $240,000, were shipped via parcel from Calexico, California, which is located close to the Mexican border.

Guevara-Mata was later charged with promoting prison contraband while he was held at the Shelby County Jail on the meth trafficking charge. As part of the plea agreement, the promoting prison contraband charge was dropped.