Hardy sentenced to 34 months in prison for drug sales

Published 10:43 am Friday, March 24, 2017

Hardy

Hardy

One of three people arrested in a Nov. 23 drug bust that uncovered 144.27 grams of methamphetamine and 225 grams of marijuana is heading to prison.

Ezra Robert Hardy, 21, of Austin was sentenced to 34 months in prison Thursday for third-degree drug sale as part of a plea agreement reached in February.

He received credit for 120 days served and must pay $85 in fees.

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A former conviction for fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and fourth-degree DWI from a Jan. 25, 2016, incident was converted from probation to a year and a day in jail, for which he received credit for 330 days served.

Hardy was arrested with Romario Louis Luke, 22, of Rochester and Tyler Stone DeBoer, 21, Nov. 23, 2016, as part of a drug bust.

All three had faced first-degree drug possession of more than 100 grams of cocaine or meth and first-degree aggravated controlled substance crime for possessing a firearm, but the charges came down as part of the plea agreement. Hardy and Luke were also charged with being violent felons in possession of a firearm, which is also a felony.

The Austin Police Department, Mower County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at 909 First Ave. NW at 5:44 a.m. on Nov. 23, 2016, and found DeBoer, Luke and Hardy in the upstairs of the residence.

Police uncovered:

•144.27 grams of methamphetamine in various spots

•225 grams of marijuana,

•a magazine and ammunition for a 7.62-by-39-millimeter rifle,

•drug paraphernalia,

•several cell phones and a tablet,

•pistol magazines and 9-millimeter ammunition,

•a canister of pepper spray,

•various ammunition for shotgun and pistols,

•foil and 12 grams of a cutting agent,

•packaging materials for smuggling narcotics,

•a ledger,

•$58 in cash,

•three handgun holsters,

•and two bodies of armor.