NEWPORT — A Newport man who bragged to police that he was the top heroin dealer in the Newport area and broke an officer’s finger during his arrest, was sentenced to serve four and a half to eight years behind bars, after he pled guilty to charges last week.
Patrick J. Mullinex, 31, of Newport, pled guilty to three charges of selling heroin and a charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Court records show that the Vermont Drug Task Force began watching Mullinex back in June 2014, and with the help of an informant approached him to buy two bags of heroin. After completing the first buy, police say that they arranged another buy, this time a bundle of ten bags.
The informant wore a wire when he met with Mullinex to purchase the drugs. Officers monitored the conversation, and with the help of the informant, set up two more buys, totaling about 1,595 milligrams of heroin.
Newport Police eventually moved in and arrested him. Police say he told them he was the top dealer in the area.
During the arrest, officers say they worried that he was having a seizure, and sat him down after fearing he might injure himself or others.
While seated, Mullinex kicked the inside of one of the officer’s knees, and then kicked his hand, breaking his right ring finger.
Last Wednesday, he was sentenced to serve four and a half to eight years in prison, and will receive credit for time already served.
It’s good that these guys can find informants however the people that rat out the dealers are allowed to continue using and selling after they have helped take out there competition. I think we waste to much time on this heroin problem. Let the users give themselves hot shots that will do a lot more good than [rehab] and welfare.