WACO, Texas — A Waco man is sentenced to 44 years in jail on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in a drug-free zone.
A resident, living close to the intersection of 65th Street and Sanger Avenue, contacted Waco Police Department on April 23, 2024 and said a man knocked on their door trying to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine. The resident refused and called authorities immediately, according to the department's press release.
The location was very close to Tennyson Middle School, and thereby within a legally designated drug-free zone. Colleges, universities, and schools are typically considered drug-free zones.
Police reportedly found Clyde Hudlin, 64, in the area with a prescription pill bottle in his pocket, featuring pills that did not match the bottle's label. Officers arrested Hudlin and brought him to McLennan County Jail.
Two bags of methamphetamine were discovered on Hudlin's body while being searched. The bottle of pills and bags of methamphetamine were then sent to a crime lab, confirming that the bottle contained fentanyl and the bags contained methamphetamine.
McLennan County prosecutors charged Hudlin with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Prosecutors enhanced Hudlin’s punishment range to 30 years to Life due to his multiple previous felony convictions.
After prosecutors presented evidence of Hudlin's criminal history to the jury, the jury sentenced Hudlin to 44 years in prison on each count.
Texas law requires the two sentences to run concurrently, and Hudlin will not become parole-eligible for 22 calendar years.
"This defendant dealt death in our community's streets. We are proud that the jury told this defendant and anyone else selling deadly illegal drugs, that they can expect serious consequences for endangering lives in McLennan County," Assistant District Attorneys Chris Spendlove and Ashlyn McCowan-Perez said.