Utah man asks to 'plead up' for more prison time

[February 04, 2010]  OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- A Utah man has chosen to fight heroin addiction by spending more time in jail.

Damon Conrow was sentenced Tuesday on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after asking to "plead up" to a first-degree felony. The charge had been a second-degree felony, but Conrow wanted a longer sentence.

Conrow said he'll soon be happier than he is now because he'll get off heroin. He said within about eight weeks of going to jail, he expects withdrawal symptoms to ease so he can start having normal sleeping patterns.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty in December.

On Tuesday, 2nd District Judge Pamela Heffernan gave Conrow one last chance to change his mind and withdraw his guilty plea. Conrow declined.

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Information from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net/

[Associated Press]

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