FARMINGTON — An Avon man, charged with trafficking illegal drugs, was sentenced Friday in Franklin County Superior Court to 10 years at the Department of Corrections with all but three years suspended.

Daryl “Poochie” Searles, 57, of Avon was charged in April in what police called one of the largest drug busts in Franklin County.

Bags of marijuana, bottles of pills, seven firearms and $144,008 in cash were found as part of a warrant search in an investigation that went on for several months, Franklin County Detective Stephen Charles stated at the sentencing.

Although Searles had previously pleaded guilty in a plea agreement, the state was looking for a prison sentence with all but four years suspended, followed by three years of probation.

Searles’ attorney, Walter Hanstein, sought two years and suggested his client perform 500 hours of community service during his probation period.

After listening to both sides, Justice Robert Clifford acknowledged what he called a “very serious offense done for the sole purpose of monetary reward.”

Although Searles is apparently not addicted himself, drug sales take advantage of those who are addicted, he said.

Clifford also acknowledged Searles’ lack of other crimes, other than a felony when he was a teenager, and the ways Searles has since contributed to the community, he said.

Searles was sentenced to 10 years with all but three suspended, three years probation, a $400 fine and 500 hours of community service on a charge of felony aggravated trafficking of illegal drugs.

Two other felony charges of unlawful trafficking will run concurrent, each carrying a $400 fine.

In April, police confiscated 442 pills, representing nine different prescription narcotics, from Searles’ home at 148 Avon Valley Road. The street value was estimated at $18,000, Charles said.

The strength of the pills ranged from five milligrams of hydrocodone up to 30 milligrams of oxycodone.

Police also seized 2.1 pounds of marijuana in different-size bags and seven firearms, Charles said.

Cash amounting to $144,008 was confiscated and forfeited, although Hanstein said some of that amount consisted of money Searles earned from his work doing odd jobs for other people. 

Searles lives in a camp with no toilet and no electricity. This was his life savings, Hanstein said.

Yvonne Rowe of Farmington, a professor at Colby College, told the court she had known Searles for most of his life.

“He’s been a good citizen, except for this,” she said.

He started doing odd jobs at age 13, and his teachers would hire him. He always did more than asked to do, she said.

He was very helpful and had a good reputation, she said.  He helped people who couldn’t afford to pay.

Searles earned approximately $7,000 a year doing odd jobs, said Joshua Robbins, assistant district attorney. He would have had to put $6,000 a year away for 24 years to save the $144,008.

Searles had a split reputation in Phillips, Robbins said. He helped people while others came to him to feed their own drug habit. The drug sales were on a level not seen around here, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com