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Life sentence given for meth possession

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A Tarrant County man has been sentenced to life in prison, after being found with a quantity of methamphetamine upon leaving a Greenville motel in December 2012.

Mark Eugene Engle, 46, of Watauge, had previously entered an open plea of guilty to the charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, in an amount of between four and 200 grams. An open plea means no plea bargain agreement had been arranged in the case and that Engle was subject to the full range of punishment.

  Engle was facing a maximum sentence upon conviction of from five to 99 years to life in prison for the first degree felony charge.

Following a two-day punishment trial in the 196th District Court, the jury returned Wednesday with the sentence of life in prison, according to Hunt County District Attorney Noble D. Walker Jr.

“We are extremely pleased that the jury sentenced this defendant to life in prison,” Walker said. “The jury heard evidence that the defendant had been to the penitentiary on two prior occasions for dealing drugs. That prior criminal history, coupled with the defendant having 4.11 grams of methamphetamine in this case, certainly must have weighed heavily in the juror’s minds in assessing an appropriate punishment. The life sentence was clearly warranted based on the fact that the defendant was dealing drugs and had previous felony convictions for dealing drugs.”

On Dec. 7, 2012, Greenville Police Officers responded to a call at 5109 Interstate 30.

Prior to the officers arriving, Engle left the premises and was apprehended shortly thereafter during a traffic stop on Interstate 30. A search warrant was issued for the hotel room and methamphetamine was discovered.

“My assistant, Steve Lilley, did a great job in securing this life sentence,” Walker said. “Additionally, Greenville Police Detectives Steve Walden, Jason Smith, and Warren Mitchell put together a very good case for us to prosecute.”