A Vicksburg man convicted by a jury on drug charges in 2009 asked Warren County Circuit Court Tuesday for a reduction of the $20,000 fine imposed as part of his sentence.

Dudley Maynord, 36, 103 Hilldale Drive, told presiding Judge Isadore Patrick he does not know how he can pay the fine and provide for his family.

He asked for the fine to be reduced by “half, at least.”

“I want to get it to where I can afford to pay the fine,” Maynord said.

Patrick asked for copies of income tax returns for the family landscaping business and said he would rule on the petition in about two weeks.

Following his conviction for possession of methamphetamine and possession of precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture the drug in September 2009, Maynord was sentenced by Patrick to 15 years in prison with five years suspended and 10 years to serve, followed by five years of probation, plus the fine and $322.50 in state-assessed court costs.

Mississippi Department of Corrections records show Maynord served about one year of that sentence, then was transferred to house arrest, the MDOC’s Intensive Supervision Program, on Oct. 7.

Assistant District Attorney Lane Campbell argued Tuesday that the opportunity to be at home with his family and work was already “a windfall” and Maynord should at least be held to the full fine.

So far, he has made just two $100 payments on the $20,322.50 imposed, Campbell told the court.

Maynord has also paid $88 to $100 a month to MDOC for house arrest assessments.

The payments were questioned by Patrick during the hearing.

Maynord, represented by Jackson attorney Ross Barnett Jr., told Patrick he is allowed to leave the house to work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. He said he is an employee of Maynord Landscaping Inc., which he said is owned by his wife, and works 40 to 50 hours a week.

He is paid $10 per hour to manage a landscape crew of about nine and was paid about $403 last week, he testified.

Maynord said he purchased the company in 1996 and transferred ownership to his wife, Marcia Maynord, in 2002.

Maynord lived at 1423 Chambers St. at the time of his arrest in December 2007 and told Patrick at Tuesday’s hearing that his business suffered by half after his arrest and he ended up losing his house and having to move.

He has three children, the oldest of whom wants to attend college in the fall, and wants to save to buy a new home, he said.

In taking the matter under advisement, Patrick pointed out that Maynord’s business could rebound during his probation term and he could again find himself able to manage the payments.