AUGUSTA — A Waterville man will spend an initial two years behind bars for trafficking in cocaine near a public park designated as a safe zone.

Ernest L. Green Jr, 40, pleaded guilty Tuesday at the Capital Area Judicial Center to a charge of unlawful trafficking in cocaine, which occurred Aug. 16, 2017, in Waterville.

The remaining five years of his sentence was suspended while he spends three years on probation. A $400 fine associated with that charge was suspended.

Green sat in a wheelchair in the area of the court reserved for those in custody and wheeled himself back into the in-custody area after the hearing. His attorney, Lisa Whittier, said Green had a broken foot.

According to police, Green sold crack cocaine behind his Elm Street apartment in Waterville, a location near Belmont Park, an area classified as a safe zone by the Legislature.

He was arrested Sept. 26, 2017, and on Thursday he agreed to forfeit the $1,005 cash he had on him at the time. The state said the money was traceable to drugs.

Green also pleaded guilty to a charges of operating under the influence and violating conditions of release, which occurred Feb. 14 on Spring Street in Waterville.

He was sentenced to a concurrent 96 hours in jail and fined $600, and his license was suspended for 150 days.

Additional drug charges were dismissed in exchange for the plea.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

[email protected]

Twitter: @betadams