Austin man sentenced to prison time on felony drug sale charge in Mower County District Court

An Austin man who was observed selling a total of 14.498 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Austin on three separate occasions in June and July of 2022 has been sentenced to prison time in Mower County District Court.

26-year old Michael Thomas Barren, who is currently serving a 58-month prison sentence after violating the terms of his probation on a felony charge of 2nd degree drugs, sale of a Schedule I or II narcotic in a park zone stemming from drug sales in Austin from March 10th to April 6th, 2021 was convicted and sentenced Monday to an additional 39 months in prison for a felony charge of 3rd degree drugs, sale of a narcotic.  Barren was given credit for 59 days already served, and Judge Jeffery Kritzer determined that Barren will be allowed to serve the two sentences concurrently.

Barren pleaded guilty to charge on November 17th, 2023 after initially pleading not guilty on September 14th of last year, and a felony charge of 2nd degree drugs, sale of 10 grams or more of a narcotic other than heroin within a 90-day period, plus two additional felony 3rd degree drug sale charges against Barren in the case were all dismissed with his guilty plea.