Lynn man pleads guilty to drug possession; to receive reduced sentence in January

SALEM – A Lynn drug dealer was given a reduced sentence in exchange for a guilty plea Thursday in Salem Superior Court.Andre Sanders, 20, of 29 Huss Court, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine before Judge Howard J. Whitehead.As part of negotiations between the prosecutor and defense, sentencing is delayed until Jan. 7. In the meantime, Sanders remains free on $1,500 cash.Sanders is expected to receive a sentence of two to two-and-a-half years in prison, but if he fails to appear, he is facing up to 10 years in prison and all deals are off, Assistant District Attorney John B. Brennan emphasized.Brennan said the charge stems from his arrest in Lynn in August 2006.It was about 2:25 a.m., on Aug. 30 when State Police trooper Michael Tulipano pulled over a Dodge Charger for failing to stop at a stop sign.As the trooper approached the vehicle, he observed the driver of the vehicle and a passenger, later identified as Sanders.In plain view inside the vehicle, the trooper saw a prescription bottle for 90 OxyCodone pills, but only two pills were in the bottle and the prescribed name on the bottle was neither the defendant nor the driver of the vehicle.The prescription had been filled two days prior, Brennan said.He then conducted a pat frisk of Sanders, which revealed about 30 grams of cocaine, just over an ounce, on his person.Initially, Sanders had been charged with trafficking over 28 grams of cocaine, but as part of the plea concession the charge was reduced, sparing him of a minimum mandatory 5-year prison term and a maximum of 10 years in prison.