A Proctorville man with two small children and one on the way was given another chance to stay out of prison at his sentencing hearing Tuesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Jerrod McKinney, 34, of 38 Township Road 1321, was visibly emotional as he read a letter to Judge D. Scott Bowling, pleading not to be sent to prison for a year, as recommended by the prosecution.

McKinney had previously pleaded guilty to one fourth- and two fifth-degree counts of trafficking in drugs, which included oxycodone and heroin. He apologized to the court for his actions and “poor decisions.”

“Although I cannot go back and change them, I have learned from them,” McKinney said. “I’m not a drug dealer. I’m an addict and made some really poor choices.”

The man said he was holding down two jobs to support his wife and children, as well as attending drug counseling twice a week.

Warren Morford, the man’s attorney, recommended a sentence of community control sanctions rather than prison.

“I will not fail at this,” McKinney said. “I will prevail.”

Bowling agreed to the recommendation and sentenced McKinney to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation and 200 hours community service.

McKinney must also pay $5,000 in fines and continue his drug treatment.

In other cases:

• Andrew Johnston, 29, of 2793 County Road 17, South Point, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for counts of third-degree failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, fourth-degree receiving stolen property and misdemeanor DUI, to which he previously pleaded guilty. Bowling also ordered the man to pay a $500 fine and suspended his driver’s license for six months.

• Brandon Ainsworth, 22, of 3910 County Road 55, South Point, was arraigned on a fifth-degree count of theft, to which he pleaded not guilty. Bowling set bond at $10,000 own-recognizance and $2,500 cash or surety. A pretrial was set for Jan. 7.

• Ricky Bare, 57, of 704 S. Seventh St., Ironton, was arraigned on a fourth-degree count of theft, to which he pleaded not guilty. Bowling set bond at $10,000 OR and $2,500 cash or surety. A pretrial was set for Jan. 7.

• Randy Vaughn II, 31, of 1157 Bloss Branch Road, Lavalette, West Virginia, was sentenced to four years CCS/ISP for a fifth-degree count of breaking and entering, to which he previously pleaded guilty. Bowling also ordered the man to perform 200 hours of community service.

• Alexander Buffington, 41, of 1614 County Road 36, Chesapeake, was sentenced to four year CCS/ISP for a fourth-degree count of theft, to which he previously pleaded guilty. Bowling also ordered the man to complete six months of drug rehab, 200 hours community service and pay $330 restitution.

• Dara Rowe, 36, of 13 Township Road 373, Ironton, was arraigned on a third-degree count of tampering with evidence, to which she pleaded not guilty. Judge Charles Cooper set bond at $35,000 cash or surety and set a pretrial for Dec. 10.