Jason Michael Biddle of Mountain Home wasted little time in squandering an opportunity he had been given in late July to seek help with his drug addictions by walking out of a Care Center Ministries program.
The legal system has used almost every tool available in handling the 32-year-old Biddle’s many drug-related cases. He has been put on probation, sent to prison, spent time in the Baxter County jail, been committed to one of the Community Correction Centers in the state and to Care Center Ministries in Mountain Home to undergo addiction treatment. He has also lost vehicles and money in forfeiture actions filed against him stemming from his drug activity.
In addition to violating his probation by walking away from his latest stay in the Care Center Ministries program, Biddle was also arrested this month in Marion County on a number of charges including possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and fleeing.
Just a few months ago, Biddle was sentenced to 15 years probation and ordered into the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force program. He remained in the program only a short time before leaving.
During the sentencing process in July, 14th Judicial District Prosecutor David Ethredge said to the court the state had chosen not to object to the arrangement made for Biddle based “on the recommendation of numerous people who felt Biddle deserved one last chance.” He said he wanted to remind Biddle “he is getting an extraordinary opportunity.”
Biddle told the court he was “tired of being an addict” and wanted to do something with his life.
Drug court is a rigorous addictions treatment program generally taking two or more years to complete. Those in the program must adhere to a long list of stringent regulations, and those who wash out can generally expect a trip to prison.
It is normal to have drug court entrants spend time in one of the Community Corrections Centers in the state for addiction treatment. Biddle was given a break in that area as well. He was not committed to a Community Correction Center, but was permitted re-enter the Care Center Ministries treatment program once more.
Biddle had been previously enrolled in the Care Center Ministries program, but left voluntarily at that time and and returned to the Baxter County jail.
In the July 18th court appearance, Biddle pled guilty to four active drug cases stemming from arrests in May, July, August and October last year. The charges included possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, fleeing in a vehicle after being stopped by an Arkansas State Police trooper, bringing drugs into the Baxter County jail, carrying weapons and being a habitual offender.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI