TEXARKANA, Texas -- A Red River County man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday for trafficking methamphetamine.
Casey Andrew Clark, 31, appeared for sentencing with Longview, Texas, lawyer Greg Waldron before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III in Texarkana's downtown federal building. Clark pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of meth though he was found in possession of more than 150 grams at the time of his arrest in April 2021.
Numer-ous firearms seized at the time of Clark's arrest have been forfeited to state authorities in Red River County, where Clark is facing additional prison time. At the time of his arrest on the federal charge, Clark was serving probation for various crimes, including evading arrest and attempting to take a taser from a police officer in Red River County.
Clark had only been on probation for seven months when he was arrested on the federal charge.
Waldron argued that Clark has a substance abuse problem that has not been addressed and became more severe after the death of Clark's parents. Clark's "treatment plan" was methamphetamine, Waldron argued.
Waldron argued that with a 10-year sentence, Clark's son, now 9, will be an adult when Clark is released.
"I'm ashamed of why I'm here, of my actions," Clark said, describing himself as experiencing a "downward spiral" after the death of his father in 2016 and mother in 2019.
"Now that my mind's not clouded with the drug use, it was just bad choices. I know better," Clark said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok expressed a less charitable view of Clark's misconduct.
"This is a guy who has 150 grams of meth in his house with firearms strewn about, including body armor," Hornok said. "I think what is of note here is the rapid recidivism of this defendant."
Hornok pointed out that Clark's contacts with law enforcement over the past couple of years have involved violence. Arrests for domestic violence that were not prosecuted at the alleged victim's request were discussed as well.
Waldron said the body armor found in Clark's possession is a Vietnam-era family heirloom.
Clark is expected to appear in Red River County next week before 6th District Judge Wes Tidwell for sentencing on the state charges. Hornok and Waldron said the agreement pending in Red River County is for a two-year prison term. With credit for time served, Clark will finish his state time April 15, 2023. The clock on Clark's federal time will not begin to run until then.
Under federal guidelines, Clark faced a sentence of 135 to 168 months. Waldron argued for the low end, while Hornok ordered for the high end. Schroeder said he considered arguments from both sides in arriving at a 144-month term.
"This is your time to do your dead-level best to get your life back on track," Schroeder said. "What you do with that time is ultimately up to you."