Drug dealer gets five-year prison sentence

SALEM – A former Lynn man who was caught twice dealing cocaine within the city in 2009 received five years in state prison with probation following his guilty plea.Kerlin Aubourg, aka “Earl,” 23, last known address of 25 Clarendon St., #2, Malden, changed his plea of not guilty to guilty Thursday afternoon in Salem Superior Court to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, subsequent offense, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and operating a motor vehicle after suspension.Judge John T. Lu handed down the sentence. Following the five-year prison term, Aubourg will be on probation for three years, during which time he must refrain from drugs, maintain employment or be in school in the alternative, have two job applications weekly on file and be evaluated for substance abuse treatment and counseling.The punishment will coincide with the 40-month federal prison term he is serving for narcotics after being arrested in Lynn last November during a gang sweep.Assistant District Attorney Michael Sheehan said the charges arise out of two incidents in Lynn in October of 2009.On the afternoon of Oct. 9 at about 4:30 p.m., State Trooper Mark Blanchard was on patrol when he observed a white Ford Thunderbird swerving the lane and failing to stop at a sign. Blanchard pulled the vehicle over on Ocean Avenue for the motor vehicle infraction and smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.Aubourg admitted he was driving the vehicle on a suspended license. During a “pat frisk” the officer confiscated two knotted twists of crack cocaine along with a total of $2,601 in cash. Aubourg admitted to police he was not working at the time and his license had been suspended by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.Then, more than two weeks later on Oct. 26, he was arrested on Sagamore Street for selling two $40 twists of crack cocaine to a cooperating individual. When police arrested Aubourg, they found the marked currency on his person along with additional cocaine.Sheehan asked for a punishment of up to seven years in state prison with probation pointing out that Aubourg has three prior narcotic convictions in which he received suspended sentences, the most recent in 2006.Defense lawyer Peter T. Marano asked for the five year prison term with probation saying his client made “incredible, horrible choices” when he left school and got into the life on the streets.He said he is smart and was a promising basketball player who attended St. Mary’s High School and he made the wrong choices and now wants to move forward and move on with his life.The judge credited Aubourg the 358 days he has spent in jail awaiting trial on the case.