BEATRICE – A Beatrice man scheduled to go to trial has entered no contest pleas to misdemeanor drug charges.

31-year-old Taylor A. Smith entered the pleas to misdemeanor counts of attempted drug possession and maintaining a drug house. 

Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner scheduled sentencing in the case, for July 6th.   A plea agreement lowered a felony charge to a misdemeanor and dismissed a drug paraphernalia count.

Both the state and defense have recommended a probation sentence, running at the same time of a probation term Taylor is serving in a 2020 criminal case.  An 18-month probation term for Smith began on July 1st of last year, for attempted drug possession.

Smith was arrested following the search of a north Beatrice apartment in March of 2021…part of a drug investigation where officers recovered bags with suspected methamphetamine residue, along with unused syringes and a notebook allegedly detailing information regarding the exchange of drugs.