Lynn man pleads guilty to dealing drugs, gets 3 years

LAWRENCE – A Lynn man about to go on trial for again peddling cocaine two years ago but instead opted to confess to a lesser charge received two and a half to three years in state prison.Richard White, 49, of 224 Chatham St., #3, Lynn, made his plea Monday in Lawrence Superior Court to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine before Judge Kimberly Budd.At about 12:45 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2009, White sold a $34 bag of cocaine to an undercover officer at the corner of Union and Green streets in Lynn.White was subsequently arrested by Massachusetts State Police and Lynn police working in conjunction with each other.He was initially indicted by an Essex County grand jury last December on a charge of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, subsequent offenses. Although White previously was convicted of narcotic distribution out of West Roxbury District Court in 1998 and 1996 and Boston Municipal Court in 1993 the commonwealth agreed not to prosecute that portion of the charge as part of the plea concession. His confession to the charge as it stands spared him a mandatory five-year state prison term.The confession was the result of negotiations reached between Assistant District Attorney Greg A. Friedholm and defense lawyer Thomas Pierce.White has been free on his own personal promise to return to court since being arraigned.