MOUNT VERNON — Over a year after he was ordered to close his business, Waking Dreams owner Timothy Carrico apologized for the actions that led him to stand before Knox County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Wetzel.
“I want to say how sorry I am for the actions that led me to be here,” Carrico said as he read from a prepared statement.
Carrico was charged with permitting drug abuse, a fifth degree felony, and pleaded no contest in October. His sentence was imposed Wednesday morning.
Carrico acknowledged that he had been negligent of his own responsibility when it came to products sold in his store. Synthetic marijuana was being sold out of Waking Dreams when the Knox County Prosecutor’s Office shut down the business with a nuisance order in October 2016 after an investigation by local law enforcement.
The courtroom was filled with Carrico’s family and friends in a show of support for the embattled businessman.
“I know that I’m not entitled to be forgiven,” Carrico stated, but said he would work to earn that forgiveness.
“This was a big case for our community. It’s a serious case,” Wetzel said as he handed down the sentencing. He noted that a number of people were affected by Carrico’s decisions to sell synthetic marijuana out of his store.
“I do take this very seriously,” Wetzel said before adding that it was still a fifth-degree felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison.
Wetzel sentenced Carrico to three years on community control with a 180-day jail sentence suspended. Carrico will also have to complete 80 hours of community service. As part of his sentencing agreement, Carrico must forfeit $100,000. He is already well on his way there after handing over money and guns totaling $65,000. Carrico assured Wetzel that he would have the remaining $35,000 paid within a year’s time.
