Nickerson man convicted for having hundreds of doses of fentanyl near Nickerson High – News – The Hutchinson News

A Nickerson man busted with pounds of suspected meth and hundreds of pills of fentanyl in his home near Nickerson High School faces more than 16 years in prison after pleading guilty in the case on Friday.

Michael D. Curran, 57, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 doses of the opiate fentanyl and more than 100 grams of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, both Severity Level 1 crimes on the state’s sentencing grid.

He also pled to possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, and possession of amphetamines, according to court records.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed not to seek an upward sentencing departure and dismissed two cases of drug distribution, said Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton.

“I was going to file a motion for an upward departure based on him selling the fentanyl as oxy (oxycodone) pills, which created a high risk of overdose,” Stanton said.

The two distribution cases resulted in investigators obtaining a search warrant for Curran’s home at 106 S. Paine in Nickerson, which was about two blocks from the high school.

During the search, Reno County Drug Enforcement unit officers seized 835 grams, or nearly two pounds, of meth and 890 pills initially identified as oxy, but later determined through lab tests to contain fentanyl.

Officers also seized a .22-caliber handgun, .22-caliber rifle and some $4,000 in cash.

While Stanton said he’ll seek a 194-month sentence, Curran, represented by appointed attorney Monique Centeno, may request a downward departure on the length of the sentence.

Sentencing was set for 8:30 a.m., April 26.