GALLIPOLIS — A 2-year-old case came to an end Tuesday when Judge D. Dean Evans sentenced a Gallipolis man to eight years in prison for illegal manufacturing of drugs following a one-day jury trial in the Gallia County Common Pleas Court.

John L. Siders, 57, was indicted by the Gallia County grand jury in 2005 after two Gallia County sheriff’s deputies responded to a Crown City residence after receiving information that a meth lab was operating out of the residence.

According to the police report, Siders was found at the residence which, indeed, contained the equipment and chemicals used in meth production.

Following trial Monday, the jury found Siders guilty of illegal manufacturing of drugs.

At the sentencing on Tuesday, Siders’ attorney, John Lentes, asked the court to hand down a sentence equivalent to sentences obtained through plea bargains in similar cases, as well as offers made to his client before the jury trial. Lentes went on to say that giving Siders the maximum sentence would be penalizing him for taking the case to a jury trial and exercising his constitutional rights.

Evans disagreed and sentenced Siders to the maximum of eight years, citing Siders’ history of criminal activity and his continued activity after the 2005 indictment as some of the reasons behind the decision.

Shortly after being released on bond after his arraignment in 2005, Siders reportedly was jailed in West Virginia on another crime, which delayed the Gallia County proceedings.

In addition to the prison sentence, Siders was also ordered to pay a $7,500 fine, pay court costs and received a five year suspended license.

Gallia County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Adkins was pleased with the court’s decision.

“I think it sent a message, don’t manufacture methamphetamine in Gallia County,” said Adkins.