NORWICH – A Norwich man who admitted to selling drugs out of a mobile home in the City of Norwich will avoid a state prison sentence if he completes a state-run drug treatment program.

Justin C. Harrington, 23, 115 Rexford St. appeared before Judge W. Howard Sullivan in Chenango County Court Monday. He pleaded guilty to first degree criminal nuisance, a class E felony. The crime carries a sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years behind bars. Rather than serving that time in state prison, however, Harrington has been given the opportunity to enter the New York State Department of Correction’s Willard program, a 90-day intensive drug and alcohol treatment program. If he successfully completes the program, he will serve out the remainder of his sentence on parole.

The plea agreement is part of a deal negotiated by Harrington’s defense attorney, David Sonn, the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office and the court. One of its stipulations was that the drug offender waive his right to further appeal the case.

Sullivan pointed out that Harrington was only 23 or 24, and already he has been “in and out of jail and on and off probation”

“Now is the time to put that behind you,” the judge said.

Harrington was arrested on April 7 after the Norwich City Police visited his trailer in the Rexford Street Trailer Park for the second time in as many days. On their first visit, a number of drugs and drug paraphernalia were seized and Harrington’s girlfriend, 23 year-old Rhonda L. Hernandez, was arrested. She was subsequently charged with five counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.

When the police returned the following day, they discovered Harrington and another individual at the trailer, as well as more drugs.