Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Charles Knuckles is seen at his plea hearing Friday in Houghton County Circuit Court with his attorney Andrew Jones. Knuckles pleaded guilty to three felony counts related to the sale of morphine.

HOUGHTON — A South Range man pleaded guilty Friday to three charges related to a February arrest for selling morphine in advance of a trial that had been scheduled for next week in Houghton County Circuit Court.

Charles Knuckles, 24, pleaded guilty to delivery of of morphine/hydromorphone, a seven-year felony; maintaining a drug house, a two-year high court misdemeanor; and attempted possession of less than 25 grams of morphine/hydromorphone, a two-year high court misdemeanor.

As a condition of his guilty pleas, Knuckles will serve only county jail time. Also, no additional charges will be brought in either case.

Five other counts of delivery of morphine were dismissed, as well as charges of possession of less than 25 grams of a controlled substance and furnishing contraband.

Knuckles said Friday he had made the sales at his girlfriend’s apartment in South Range, where he was living. He had received money for 15 to 20 morphine pills, he said. At the time of his arrest, he had kept 15 to 20 pills near in his groin, which were discovered at the jail when he was searched. Knuckles said he had been under the influence and had been startled when police knocked his door down; he had not intended to smuggle the pills into the jail, he said.

Knuckles’ attorney, Andrew Jones, asked for Knuckles’ bond to be continued. Knuckles has been helping to support his 3-week-old child with his girlfriend, who remains on maternity leave, Jones said. Jones also entered a letter from Knuckles’ employer, who said he has been a valuable asset to them.

Judge Charles Goodman revoked the bond, citing the number of felonies.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place in about 30 days.