Sentencing was delayed Friday for a Vicksburg business owner found guilty of possession of methamphetamine and possession of precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture the drug.

James Dudley Maynord, 35, who lived at 1243 Chambers St. at the time of his arrest 22 months ago, was convicted of the charges by a jury Sept. 9. He had been scheduled to be sentenced Friday by Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick.

Patrick heard sentencing testimony from Maynord’s wife and stepfather along with a former Warren County sheriff’s deputy, and said his policy is to delay issuing a decision until he can take statements under consideration.

Patrick rescheduled the sentencing for next Friday, Oct. 2, at 9 a.m. Maynord faces a possible 40 years in prison for his part in a meth-manufacturing operation found by sheriff’s deputies and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents at Magnolia Commons Apartments, a large complex off Grange Hall Road.

Both Marcia Maynord and Steve Maynord asked Patrick for leniency, stressing that the conviction is Dudley Maynord’s first and that, as an-admitted addict, he needs drug-addiction therapy not incarceration.

“Dudley has always been a hard-working man,” said Steve Maynord. “He has provided lots of good things for this community, he’s provided jobs for people that might not have had jobs otherwise. Also, the person who knows Dudley the best, his wife Marcia, is willing to stand by him.”

Assistant District Attorney Dewey Arthur put former deputy and current Warren County Justice Court Judge Jeff Crevitt on the stand. Crevitt testified that investigators had evidence that Dudley Maynord was continuing to manufacture methamphetamine more than a year after his arrest in November 2007.

Arthur also cross-examined Marcia Maynord about her husband’s failure to complete the drug therapy program he’d been admitted to after his arrest.

Dudley Maynord owned a landscaping and lawnmowing business, which is now being run by his wife and oldest child, Marcia Maynord testified. He has two other children.

Three defendants who were arrested with Maynord will be tried separately.

Also in Warren County Circuit Court for the week ending Friday:

• Dedrick A. Fleming, 30, 118 Barrett St., Edwards, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and was sentenced by Circuit Judge M. James Chaney to the Ninth Circuit Court Drug Court Program for a period not to exceed five years, plus fines and court costs totaling $2,322.50. Fleming was arrested Feb. 24.

• William D. Harris, 22, 926 Meadow St., pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana in a jail and was sentenced by Chaney to three years in prison, plus fines and court costs of $322.50. Harris was arrested March 8.

• Ronny Louis Porter, 24, 2005 E. Main St., pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced by Patrick to three years of probation, plus restitution and court costs totaling $2,563.29. Porter was arrested Feb. 10, 2008.

• Joanna Lee Ross, 21, 613 Leflore St., Clarksdale, was found guilty of violating probation and was sentenced by Patrick to two years in prison followed by three years of probation. Ross was arrested June 11, 2007, for forgery.

• William D. Smith, 46, 100 Chance Lane, pleaded guilty to possession of two or more precursor chemicals and was sentenced by Chaney to the Drug Court Program for a period not to exceed five years, plus fines and court costs totaling $2,445. Smith was arrested Nov. 10 and Dec. 18.

• David G. Tuccio, 47, 214 Rhodes Drive, pleaded guilty to possession of two or more precursor chemicals and was sentenced by Patrick to the Drug Court Program for a period not to exceed five years, plus fines and court costs totaling $2,622.50. Tuccio was arrested March 26.

In Sharkey County Circuit Court for the week ending Friday:

• Jack K. Mason, 44, Fourth St., Rolling Fork, was found guilty of violating probation and was sentenced by Chaney to one year in the Intensive Supervision Program (house arrest) followed by four years of probation. Mason was arrested June 22, 2001, for sale of marijuana.