ALPENA — An Alpena man should have considered his family before pursuing his drug habit, Judge Ed Black said Tuesday in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court.

Telling the court he wants to get clean after 20-some years of drug addiction, Kyle Kortman, 34, asked Black to consider his children when sentencing Kortman for drug charges.

Defense attorney Mike Lamble told the court his client can’t get better without help, and Black said he wants Kortman to get that help — but he’ll have to do it after serving 19 months in prison after police found methamphetamine, morphine tablets, and baggies in Kortman’s possession, along with a sizeable amount of cash Kortman said was his recently received federal stimulus money.

Kortman pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine as a habitual user. In exchange, a drug delivery charge was dismissed.

Kortman has always been polite and nice in court, Black said, adding that he hopes to see the defendant’s good side when he gets out of prison.

“When you come back, you’re going to get with a group of people who are going to help you get sober,” Black said.