A former Vine Street resident who once seemed to get his life straightened out but then found himself involved with drugs again was told by Judge Robert Noonan today that he will spend four years in state prison.
William J. Butler, 41, of Batavia, previously entered a guilty plea to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance.
More than half an ounce of crack cocaine was found on Butler when he was arrested by members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force on Aug. 26, 2010. Because of the quantity of drugs involved, the implication of the charge is that Butler was dealing drugs.
Butler acknowledged that he blew his second chance after successfully completing parole on a previous conviction.
"In a time of hardship I made a crucial mistake and I'm resentful that I made it," Butler said. "When I saw my daughter, I apologized to her that let her down and I let down the community I live in. It's one of the worst mistakes I've made in my life, especially considering what I learned. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't resent that."
Related: Batavia woman accused of letting drug dealers operate from her home.
