A 47 year old St. Elmo man was sentenced on Friday in Fayette County Court on multiple drug charges. 47 year old T. J. McCall, who was found guilty in a jury trial back in August, was sentenced to 9 years in prison for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, 4 years for Unlawful Possession of Cannabis, and an additional 2 years on another count—with the time to be served concurrently.
The Fayette County State’s Attorney’s office says that after being advised of his 6th amendments right to be present at his sentencing hearing, the State’s Attorney’s Office says that McCall waived that right by refusing to appear in court. Therefore, the sentencing hearing was conducted without the defendant in the courtroom, pursuant to procedures in absentia. McCall also was not present in court during his jury trial in August.