Hastings Man Sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that James Mitchell, 34, of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 31, 2022, by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 15 years in federal prison for possession of 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, with intent to distribute. Following his prison term, Mitchell will serve ten years on supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

In January of 2020, James Mitchell was stopped by North Platte police driving a Chevy Cobalt with only one working headlight.  The officer could smell marijuana. Mitchell admitted to the officer that he had just smoked marijuana and stated there may be more in the vehicle.  The officer then searched the vehicle and found marijuana and methamphetamine. 

The following month, in February of 2020, deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol were at Lake Maloney State Recreation Area south of North Platte, following up on an unrelated investigation.  Mitchell, driving a Chevy Cobalt, slowed down and came to a stop near the law enforcement officers.  Two officers recognized Mitchell and knew there to be an active warrant for his arrest.  He was given verbal commands to get out of the car.  Mitchell did not comply, put the car in reverse, accelerated rapidly, and backed into a parked patrol vehicle. The side mirror on Mitchell’s car struck a deputy attempting to arrest Mitchell.  Mitchell then drove forward in the direction of the deputies at which time a deputy fired his weapon striking Mitchell.  Mitchell was taken to the hospital where he admitted to using marijuana and methamphetamine and was treated for his injuries.  Deputies found four bags of methamphetamine in Mitchell’s vehicle.  All four bags tested positive for methamphetamine with the largest bag being 75 grams of actual or pure methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, the North Platte Police Department, and the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.