A 44-year-old Wirtz man has received suspended sentences for running a small moonshining operation at his home and for a related weapons charge.
Lester Ray Hodge was sentenced Thursday in Franklin County Circuit Court after pleading guilty in November to illegal manufacture of alcohol and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.
The Roanoke Times reports that Hodge was sentenced to ten years and $2,500 in fines for both charges.
But Judge Stacey Moreau suspended all the prison time and all but $1,000 in fines. He will be on supervised probation for 18 months and is prohibited from using or possessing alcohol.
Agents from the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control raided Hodge's home in June and found more than 13 gallons of untaxed liquor.
