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ALPENA — Methamphetamine use contributed to loss of liberty for several people who appeared in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court on Tuesday and, for some, contributed to loss of family and livelihood.

Meth delivered by mail means a probable nine-year sentence for Nicholas Bushey, who on Tuesday pleaded guilty to receiving and intending to distribute the drug.

Bushey, 57, admitted he received a package, mailed to his Ossineke home in June, containing meth that he said he intended to distribute to friends.

Bushey accepted an offer promising him a minimum nine-year sentence in exchange for his guilty plea.

A person convicted of the charge to which Bushey pleaded guilty, with the same number of previous felony convictions, could be sentenced to 30 years’ incarceration.

Bushey will return to court in March for sentencing.

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More than a dozen previous jail stays and a habit of disregarding probation conditions landed Ronald Martz a prison sentence for possession of methamphetamine.

After a decade clean, Martz, 39, had just gotten his driver’s license back and started a business when he went through a period of grief and reverted to old coping habits, defense attorney Julie Miller said.

A history of failing to appear for court — and several active warrants for his arrest in Las Vegas, including for alleged conspiracy to commit kidnapping — disinclined Judge Ed Black to show leniency to Martz, the judge said.

Several hundred dollars in cash found in Martz’s possession at the time of his arrest pointed to possession of the drug for more than personal use, Black added, although Martz was charged only with possession of the drug.

Saying Martz had a substantial criminal history and had already been to jail 18 times, Black sentenced the defendant to 17 months in prison for the possession charge.

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Michael Bazzo, 40, said meth cost him his family and career, but he hopes addiction treatment at the end of a jail sentence will help him get both back.

“Once again, methamphetamine,” said defense attorney Rick Steiger, telling Black that the drug pulled Bazzo into destructive behavior, including walking away from residential treatment granted by the court after previous convictions.

Bazzo in November pleaded guilty to possession of meth earlier this year.

He wants to prove he can mend his ways and set an example as someone who makes mistakes and can change for the better, Bazzo told the court.

Black sentenced Bazzo to jail time — “You’re this close to going to prison,” the judge said, holding his finger and thumb close together — and said Bazzo could be released to residential addiction treatment nine months into his one-year sentence.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX