The question of whether a defendant was working undercover while he violated the conditions of his probation apparently went by the wayside when he decided to take a plea.

Phillip Hadaway, 55, was sentenced in Jones County Superior Court Oct. 15 to finish his 12-year sentence in prison. The end of that term, however, is March 3, 2010. Hadaway pled guilty in 1998 to drug charges and received 12 years, four to serve.

The defendant was indicted in Gwinnett County with 18 others on charges of conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine in June of 2008, but his lawyer said he denies that allegation. He was released on $40,000 bond in Gwinnett County.

Hadaway was arrested again in Rockdale County in March of this year on RICO charges.

The petition for his revocation states that he has violated the terms and conditions of his sentence by committing new offenses of marijuana, methamphetamine, and RICO in Gwinnett and Rockdale counties.

Assistant District Attorney Keagan Goodrich stated her opinion when processing the plea in front of Superior Court Chief Judge William Prior Jr.

“It’s unfortunate that the state cannot ask more than to revoke his sentence until the end date,” Goodrich stated.

A hearing in the case began Oct. 7 and only lasted a few minutes before it was continued to the next week. The question was if Hadaway was in fact working as a confidential informant and working with law enforcement when he was buying and selling drugs.

Defense attorney Donn Peevey, representing Hadaway, stated that his client was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, and entered into a contract for amnesty. He said Hadaway was given a CI number and status and was searched each time he made buys for the DEA.

As DEA agent J.R. Criger took the stand for the prosecution, the defense asked the case be continued because of confusion about what was being stipulated.