By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 19-year-old Alabaster man will spend the next year in prison after he pleaded guilty to distributing a controlled substance and stealing thousands from a Pelham cash advance business.

Evan James Bomer, who lists an address on Diane Lane in Alabaster, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance during an early January hearing in front of Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves.

Through a plea agreement with prosecutors, charges of first-degree theft of property, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a forged instrument were dismissed against Bomer.

As a result of Bomer’s guilty plea, Reeves sentenced him to 12 months in the Alabama Penitentiary followed by two years of supervised probation.

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Bomer on Aug. 11, 2015, and charged him with the drug crimes.

According to Bomer’s arrest warrants, he allegedly distributed the controlled substance suboxone from his home on July 8, 2015, and July 15, 2015. He also allegedly was found in possession of synthetic marijuana and a “bottle cap bong top” on July 24, 2015, according to the warrants

When Bomer was arrested on the drug charges, he was out on bond on multiple theft and forger-related charges brought against him by the Pelham Police Department in late 2014.

According to his warrants, Bomer stole $8,682.93 from the Pelham Easy Money location from Nov. 10-28, 2014, and allegedly forged checks for $325 and $87.20 on Nov. 13, 2014, and forged a $379 check on Nov. 14, 2014.

Reeves cited the amount stolen from Easy Money as a reason for handing down a longer-than-normal sentence for the crime.

“The sentence is a departure from Alabama’s sentencing standards because defendant was charged with numerous felony offenses, one of which involved an attempted or actual taking or receipt of property of great monetary value,” read Bomer’s sentencing order.

As part of his sentence, Bomer must pay $8,682.93 in restitution to Easy Money, and must avoid initiating any contact with Easy Money employees and property.