Stock Island man is off to prison for 30 months

A Stock Island man is off to prison for 30 months after admitting he yet again violated his probation in a drug case.

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones sentenced James Parker, 50, on March 29 in a case dating back five years. He was originally sentenced to 30 months of probation on August 14, 2014, after pleading no contest to sale of cocaine and sale of oxycodone. But in the years since, he has admitted in court to violating probation on several occasions, including the latest violations.

On April 18, 2014, detectives with the Key West Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office conducted a controlled buy on Robyn Lane on Stock Island using a confidential informant. They arranged for the informant to buy from Parker 10 oxycodone pills and $100 worth of crack cocaine weighing 1.2 grams. The sale went through and on May 28, 2014, Judge Jones signed a warrant for Parker’s arrest, and he was arrested that day.

Following his sentencing, Parker was arrested on May 18, 2015, for violating probation by failing a urinalysis test for cocaine. Judge Jones modified his probation to included substance-abuse treatment. Then he was arrested on August 17, 2015, for again failing a test for cocaine. Judge Jones extended his probation and again ordered treatment for substance abuse.

His latest probation violations were for failing to report to his probation officer, failing to pay his cost of supervision and court costs, and moving from his residence without his probation officer’s permission. He was arrested on December 10, 2018.

Assistant State Attorney Christine Poist represented the state.

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