Chicago man pleads guilty to lesser drug charge in Luce County

A Chicago man could face up to six years in prison after pleading guilty to an amended drug charge in Luce County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Bradley Heard, 35, pled guilty to one count of controlled substance, possession of cocaine.  That charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but since Heard is charged as a habitual offender, he could face a maximum of six years in prison.  A number of other charges, including maintaining a drug house, were dropped.

Heard will be sentenced July 22.

His co-defendant, Harvey Owens, 27, was sentenced in March and is currently serving two and a half to 15 years in prison.

They were arrested in September 2013 in Newberry by the Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement Team. Detectives seized marijuana, cash, a hand gun, and other drug-trafficking evidence.