Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cocaine dealer gets 60 years

Leeotis Sims, 31, of Gurdon, was convicted of felony drug charges on May 24 in Clark County Circuit Court.

Sims was sentenced to serve 60 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections by Judge John Thomas.

Marshal Don Childres said, "Sims was found guilty on all counts by a jury of 12. They gave him 60 years. Then Circuit Judge Thomas pronounced the sentence."

Sims was found guilty of two counts of delivery of a schedule two controlled substance - cocaine. These charges were Class Y felonies.

Sims was also charged and convicted of two counts of delivering a controlled substance, specifically cocaine, in a close proximity to certain facilities, such as a school, daycare or church.

Sims was taken to trial by Clark County Prosecutor Henry Morgan, who Marshal Childres said is known to be strict on those involved in the sale of illegal drugs.

"Sims was one of the people that we busted in our sting operation back in the fall of 2005," Childres said. "His convictions and harsh sentence should send a message to other drug dealers in Clark County that the people of this county will not put up with the selling of illegal drugs."

According to Childres, Sims is one of 15 cases involved in the sting operation.

"We have 14 more case to deal with in court," he said. "As to Sims, he was also convicted of four felony drug charges in Nevada County from 2000 to 2003."