ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – A 26-year-old St. Charles man was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday, months after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

It was the lightest sentence that Justin J. Heneghan could receive on the Class X felony. Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon cited a 17-page letter that Heneghan had written, explaining a difficult past, in which Heneghan’s father was killed when he was 8 years old. Sheldon also mentioned he was encouraged that Heneghan had turned to religion.

Assistant State’s Attorney Christina Wascher had argued for a 12-year sentence. Heneghan could have been sentenced to as many as 30 years in prison. He will be given credit for at least 882 days he has spent in jail.