L’ANSE – One of the defendants in a 2014 Baraga County drug case was sentenced to time served in Baraga County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Corey Haataja, 33, of L’Anse, pleaded guilty earlier this month to delivery of morphine, a seven-year felony. In exchange for his plea, a similar 20-year charge was dropped. He spent 20 days in jail after the plea.

Haataja was one of 17 defendants arrested in December 2014 as part of a year-long joint drug investigation between Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team, the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“I feel like I made a mistake, and I just want to get on with my life,” he told Judge Charles Goodman.

Prosecutor Joseph O’Leary, who had dealt with Haataja on a prior misdemeanor charge, had thought Haataja had gotten past his encounters with the justice system.

“I’m hopeful and optimistic that this was a little bump in the road, and he’s going to put this behind him,” he said.

Haataja’s attorney, George Hyde, said Haataja was well-regarded at his workplace, which held his job for him during his jail time.

“I know the owner to be a good judge of character,” he said. “I think he’s a good kid.”

Goodman warned Haataja about the destructiveness of drugs to the community.

“Don’t come back,” he said.

“You’ll never see me again,” Haataja replied.