FALLON " The former chief umpire of the Fallon Youth Baseball League has been sentenced to up to five years in prison for selling methamphetamine near a public park.
John Jefferson King II will have to serve at least 16 months and pay fines up to $20,000 under the sentence from District Court Judge Leon Aberasturi for two counts of attempt or commission of an unauthorized act relating to a controlled or counterfeit substance.
He was accused of selling methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of Millennium Park three times in 2008 " Nov. 20, Nov. 21 and Dec. 17.
District Attorney Art Mallory said the crime was amplified because of his role with the baseball league.
"He is 47 years old and had been associating with our youth in the community since 1993," Mallory said. "Yet this person is dealing with our youth on a weekly if not on a daily basis."
He said people who sought to purchase meth knew the chief umpire of youth baseball was the man to see.
"He sold drugs three to four days a week during the same time he was dealing with our youth," Mallory said, and added he agreed with the prison recommendation of Parole and Probation.
Public Defender Paul Drakulich said King sold very small amounts of drugs to fund his own addiction and added his client was the middle man.
King apologized to the court and said he had never used drugs when around children and was not the main man people needed to see for drugs.
"I am not a bad person, your Honor," he said. "I just got caught up (in things)."