TOM GREEN COUNTY, Texas — A 45-year-old San Angelo man was sentenced to 50 years in prison after a Tom Green County jury found him guilty of possession of methamphetamine (5.77 grams).
The jury found George Dale Simmons guilty of the offense April 2. Wednesday, after hearing punishment evidence which included evidence of prior offenses, Judge Lee Hamilton imposed the sentence.
The case stems from a May 2023 routine traffic stop for a defective stop lamp and a defective license plate light. After running Simmons' information through dispatch, the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office deputy who stopped Simmons arrested him for driving with a suspended license.
When the deputy inventoried Simmons' vehicle, they found 5.77 grams of methamphetamine on the ground right outside the driver's side door.
Evidence presented at trial showed Simmons has a 25-year history of felony convictions.
"We are thankful for the jury’s careful consideration of the evidence in this case. The punishment assessed by the court sends a clear message that our county will impose serious consequences on individuals who repeatedly violate the law and cause harm to our community. The District Attorney’s Office will continue working hard to seek justice," the 119th District Attorney's Office said in a release.
Simmons received 28 days of jail credit and his court costs were waived by Hamilton.
