BEATRICE – A Beatrice man described as a drug dealer was sentenced to a four-year state prison term Wednesday, in Gage County District Court.
39-year-old James Orton was ultimately convicted of drug possession and two counts of aiding in the commission of a felony. He avoided drug distribution charges and a habitual criminal designation as part of a plea agreement.


"Mr. Orton, we don't want you in the community. The way you acted here, we don't want you here. You've worn out your welcome. You understand how damaging methamphetamine is, yet you deal it."  Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner said Orton had multiple chances to walk away from involvement in drugs…pointing out that when Orton was sent to prison in Oklahoma, he furthered his drug addiction.


Orton’s attorney, Dustin Garrison said his client was exposed to smoking marijuana at age five or six. "A kid who's five or six years of age doesn't know any better...doesn't know what he's doing. It's always said marijuana is a stepping stone drug. Inevitably, I think that is true. When you're put in a situation at five or six years of age where you're using marijuana you don't know any different when you get older."


Judge Schreiner said Orton had a mindset that he is a victim of someone else’s drug use.  "And, that's what caused you to have such a miserable life...and then you turn around and you take that substance and you sell it to others for a profit so they can have a miserable life. That's disgusting. That's just disgusting. And, we don't need people like that in this community. We've got enough problems."


Orton had his probation from a 2020 criminal case revoked and was given a one-year prison term. Following release, the judge also ordered that Orton serve one year of supervision by Nebraska State Probation.


Just prior to sentencing, Orton apologized for his actions, saying he realizes there are many victims of his crimes. Orton was arrested during a Beatrice Police 2020 drug investigation where informants were used to make purchases of methamphetamine monitoring by law officers. Authorities also learned of drug sales that took place in 2019.