74 year old Chickasha drug dealer avoids prison

CHICKASHA, Okla. (AP) -- A 74-year-old convicted crack cocaine dealer in Chickasha won't be going to prison.<br/><br/>George Lewis was given a 10-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two

Monday, October 31st 2005, 3:14 pm

By: News On 6

CHICKASHA, Okla. (AP) -- A 74-year-old convicted crack cocaine dealer in Chickasha won't be going to prison.

George Lewis was given a 10-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of the drug.

Lewis said he used the money from selling drugs to buy cancer medication for his wife and to pay her medical bills.

Lewis' attorney said Lewis had never committed a crime in the past and that his wife is now under hospice care and the costs of medication and medical bills are covered.

Prosecutors argued for a 20 years prison term, but District Judge Richard Van Dyck said he could not see how a prison sentence would benefit Lewis, the community or the state.