BROOKINGS – A Brookings man who distributed methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of Mickelson Middle School last year has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Brent Brooks, 51, pleaded guilty on Aug. 23 to one count each of distributing meth and violating a drug-free zone. The distribution happened on or about Dec. 29, 2021, according to a Brookings County grand jury indictment.
Both counts are Class 4 felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine apiece. Distributing meth has a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison for a first-time conviction, and violating a drug-free zone has a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.
Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson said in court last month that Brookings Police were given information by several informants regarding Brooks. Surveillance also showed that Brooks sold meth to a person at his residence, 930 Southland Lane No. 6, Nelson added.
In exchange for Brooks’ guilty pleas, three additional felony charges – distributing meth, violating a drug-free zone, and possession with intent to distribute meth – were dismissed, and no other charges will be brought against him. The state deferred to the court regarding sentencing.
At sentencing Tuesday, defense attorney Jennifer Goldammer said Brooks started selling drugs because he was an addict. Brooks had struggled with substance abuse, but then did well for a while with a successful career before he experienced trauma, chose meth and decided to sell the drug to support his habit. He also wasn’t getting the mental health treatment he needed.
Goldammer asked Circuit Judge Greg Stoltenburg to impose the mandatory minimum sentence and suspend any additional time.
The judge then sentenced Brooks to one year in prison for distributing meth and five years in prison for violating a drug-free zone, to be served consecutively, with credit for 130 days previously served. Brooks must remain law abiding and follow the rules and regulations of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, as well as pay $1,000 in fines and court costs, $360 for drug testing, $800 for drug buy money, $462.18 in transportation costs, and $2,651.25 for court-appointed attorney fees.
He was remanded to the custody of the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office for transport to the state penitentiary.
The court then heard a motion to forfeit Brooks’ previously posted $10,000 cash bond for an alleged bond violation prior to his guilty pleas.
Nelson said the bond was posted by Brooks’ father, and the state notified him of the motion after a bench warrant was issued for Brooks, but there had been no contact from him.
Goldammer said she was not hired by and did not represent Brooks’ father, but she worried that the court would be setting a precedent of punishing third parties for others’ actions if it forfeited the bond, and it could result in more defendants sitting in jail.
Stoltenburg granted the motion to revoke and forfeit the bond. Of the $10,000 posted, $5,273.43 will be applied to Brooks’ fines and costs, court-appointed attorney fees, transportation costs, drug testing costs and reimbursement for drug buy money. The remainder of the bond will be returned to the person who posted it.
Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.
