Garris gets 30 day sentence, can reenter drug program

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     A rural Mountain Home man came close to losing his place in the 14th Judicial District Drug Court Program that he himself credits with making substantial and positive changes in his life.

     During a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday, a hearing on a petition filed in June to revoke Tyler Garris’ 10-year probation was conducted.     

     The petition outlined a number of ways that he is alleged to have violated the terms and conditions of his probation which, in turn, endangered his ability to continue in Drug Court.

     In late August 2014, Garris was convicted of delivery of methamphetamine and was placed on supervised probation for 10 years. It was stipulated that Garris was to enter and successfully complete the 14th Judicial District Drug Court Program as a condition of his probation.

     Garris was required to be truthful with his supervising probation officer. In the petition to revoke his probation, it was alleged that Garris violated that requirement by faking attendance logs showing he had attended AA/NA meetings when he, in fact, had not been there.

     He had been directed to attend the AA/NA meetings by the officer supervising his probation.

     Garris admitted that he forged signatures on documents that falsely attested to his presence at the meetings.

     Garris told Circuit Judge Gordon Webb, who also presides over the Drug Court Program, that at the time the forgeries on the attendance slips occurred, he was “overwhelmed” with work and family-related obligations and did not know how to handle the situation.

     In ruling that Garris could remain in the Drug Court Program, Judge Webb said that if Garris violated the rules of the program again “this is the end of the line for you”. Those who “wash out” of the program face a lengthy prison sentence and it is assumed that will be Garris’ fate if he commits any further violations of the terms and conditions of his probation.

     Garris said he had made progress in the program and told the judge that he did not “want to lose all that”.

     14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Etheridge said that, while he was sympathetic with Garris’ situation, he said his actions “prove that he just does not get it.”   The prosecutor said the state’s position was that Garris needed to spend time locked up. He said that the problems Garris described to the court came about through “self-made” decisions.

     Judge Webb ruled that the revocation petition would be amendment to the lesser offense of contempt of court. He ordered Garris to spend 30 days in the Baxter County Jail on the contempt charge. He said Garris could serve his sentence on weekends, or at other times that would permit him to keep his job. Garris can also reenter the Drug Court Program with the knowledge that the next infraction will likely result in him being sent to prison.


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