By Mike Stoll

AUSTIN — A Clarks Grove man was sentenced to prison time Friday in Mower County District Court for selling methamphetamine to an informant in 2017.

Cully Thomas Shierts, 22, of Clarks Grove was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud for felony second-degree drugs-sale of 10 grams or more of a narcotic other than heroin. He received credit for 278 days served.

The charge was reduced from felony first-degree drugs-sale of 17 grams or more of methamphetamine as part of a plea agreement reached Dec. 28.

Court documents state that a confidential reliable informant met with narcotics detectives on Dec. 14, 2017, about purchasing methamphetamine from Shierts. The informant and his vehicle were searched and police gave him money for the sale and an audio transmitter. The informant was then monitored as he went to meet Shierts in Austin. Shierts arrived in a 2003 Cadillac, which the informant entered to purchase the drugs. The informant then met with police and surrendered two bags of methamphetamine, a total of 55.728 grams.

A review of Shierts’ criminal record shows juvenile adjudications for burglary and convictions for theft, domestic assault and drug possession. He is awaiting disposition on charges of felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, two charges of felony fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property,  possession of metal knuckles and driving after revocation of his license. Those charges are for two separate cases out of Freeborn County.

The sentence was issued by Judge Kevin Siefken.