Shane Allen Wheat
Shane Allen Wheat, 35, formerly of 1210 Good Hope Road, Dalton, was sentenced on Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Jim Wilbanks to serve the remainder of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Wheat was convicted by a Whitfield County jury on March 28, of trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (two counts), obstruction of a law enforcement officer, possession of drug related objects and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (two counts).
Wheat received concurrent time on all charges other than the possession with intent to distribute, except for the two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, which by law must be run consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
Wheat had six prior felony convictions between 2003 and 2015 including a prior sale of methamphetamine (Murray County, 2003), a prior trafficking in methamphetamine (Gwinnett County, 2007), a prior possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Whitfield County, 2015), and two prior possession of methamphetamine (Murray County, 2003 and 2011). He also had a prior felony theft conviction (Murray County, 2001).
Wheat had been sent to prison five prior times serving a total of 130 months since 2003 prior to his arrest in October of 2017. That is almost 10 years out of 15 behind bars. "Each time he paroled out he would reoffend, usually within a matter of months," said District Attorney Bert Poston.
Wheat has been in custody since his arrest on the current case on Oct. 4, 2017.
Under Georgia law, the Court has authority to impose a life sentence on a second or subsequent sale or possession with intent to distribute of a schedule I or II controlled substance. Methamphetamine is schedule II. This was Wheat’s third conviction under that statute.
Also under Georgia law, when a person has three or more prior felony convictions, any subsequently ordered prison time must be served without the possibility of parole. Wheat has six prior felony convictions.
DA Poston said he appreciates Judge Wilbanks serious consideration of the options available to him and his decision to impose the maximum possible sentence given the defendant’s repeated failure to take advantage of opportunities to change his life. "It was particularly important to the safety and security of the community given the pattern of crimes and Wheat’s possession of two firearms in connection with his drug distribution business," said DA Poston.
The case was presented to the jury in March by Assistant District Attorney Ben Kenemer and by Detective Cameron Cox of the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office who was also the lead detective on the case.