JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 41-year-old Mt. Vernon man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, after he pleaded guilty in Jefferson County Court to drug and firearms related charges.

Bryon L. Liddell was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to Unlawful Possession with the Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, a Class X felony, he also pleaded guilty to a Class 2 felony charge of Unlawful Possession of Weapons by a Felon, and was sentenced to five years in prison. That sentence will run concurrent with his 12 year drug sentence.

According to Jefferson County State’s Attorney Doug Hoffman, on August 5, 2015, the Mt. Vernon Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office High Risk Team executed a search warrant on a residence in Mt. Vernon’s Country Heights neighborhood.

Liddell was present when police raided the home. During the search, police found over fifty grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, cannabis, digital scales and other drug packaging materials. Police also recovered a loaded handgun at the residence. A co-defendant, 31-year-old Jerrett Spells, was also taken into custody following the search and his case is still pending.

Hoffman stated, “With the help of our dedicated police force, we have removed this drug dealer from our streets. We will not let up in addressing the illegal drug trade that continues to plague our community.”