Maximum sentence announced

The judge in Oconee General Sessions Court has applied the maximum sentence possible to a 40-year old Salem man, convicted yesterday of distribution of methamphetamine third offense. Judge Macaulay this morning announced a sentence of 30 years, suspended to 25 years in prison for Kenneth Wayne Whitworth. The judge took into account a past of criminal convictions dating back to 1989, including two drug cases. It took the execution of a bench warrant to bring Whitworth to court today. He was present Monday for the selection of a jury, but chose to skip the actual trial portion. Whitworth’s attorney said his client was the victim of some bad advice on that from others.