Andalusia man sentenced to life imprisonment for drug trafficking

Recently, Oddesius Lacharles “Nuke” Bryant, 34, of Andalusia, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Alabama Department of Corrections, following a May trial in which he was convicted by a jury of drug-related crimes. Circuit Judge Lex Short presided over the trial and the sentencing.

Oddesius “Nuke” Bryant

Bryant was convicted at trial of trafficking in methamphetamine, second degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The State, represented by Assistant District Attorney Nikki Stephens, filed notice and requested Bryant be sentenced under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act. Bryant had prior felony convictions for theft by receiving stolen property from Cobb County, Georgia, and local convictions for distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and second degree receiving stolen property.

Evidence presented at trial showed that the Covington County Drug Task Force opened an investigation in July 2020 into narcotics sales at 605 Eighth Ave. in Andalusia. In August 2020, agents obtained a search warrant for the property and located Bryant behind the driver’s seat of his truck, parked in the driveway. Also inside the truck was trafficking weight methamphetamine, three bags of marijuana, three sets of digital scales, numerous plastic bags used for packaging, and two loaded pistols.

In addition to the life sentence, Bryant was sentenced to one year each on the two misdemeanors, second degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received 20 years for the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Short ordered the sentences to run concurrently with each other, but consecutive to another 30-year sentence Bryant was already serving for similar drug charges.

“Bryant has spent his entire life dealing drugs and setting others up for failure,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell. “He has made a career, and income, from those suffering with addiction or who are predisposed to it. He has made no apologies and certainly has not changed his behavior. After multiple convictions and multiple prison and probation stints, he returned to the same course of conduct. He now has plenty of time to work through whether it was worth it and to decide whether that is the life he will return to if ever granted parole.”

Stephens expressed her gratitude to Covington County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigator Cody Holmes and Andalusia Police Department Narcotics Investigator Tyler Patterson for their time and efforts toward the investigation that led to successful prosecution.

“Despite numerous attempts to work out a plea on these charges, and Bryant’s other charges, he drew his ‘line in the sand’ and refused to negotiate. This trial, this verdict, and these convictions and sentences are the result of that. Ultimately, Bryant is where he belongs.”

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