Gary Hewitt, former executive director of homeless services nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul, was sentenced to nearly three-and-a-half years in state prison and three years probation Wednesday morning after he pled guilty to selling substantial quantities of methamphetamine from his Redmond home.

That charge could have carried a longer sentence, but Hewitt’s plea agreement considered his accomplishments as a nonprofit leader in homelessness, his cooperation with the case and the amount of meth drug teams recovered was probably less than initial measurements.

“It’s difficult to wrap my head around how this happens, how you got to this place,” Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Beth Bagley told Hewitt during the sentencing. “I hope for better from you in the future, and I know that you want to give better in the future.”

Hewitt, 59, was arrested in August after police entered his home on a search warrant as the result of a long-term investigation. They found a scale, packaging and cash.

Prosecutors initially alleged there were more than 100 grams of drugs — the threshold carrying a mandatory prison sentence under state law of three to six years, depending on criminal history. But without packaging, the drugs likely weighed just under the threshold, said Deputy District Attorney Andrew Doyle.

One hundred grams of meth is equal to about 1,000 servings, which signals intent to sell, according to Doyle. He said the district attorney’s office has been consistent in pursuing prison sentences for “substantial” quantities of narcotics, or more than 10 grams.

Because Hewitt pleaded guilty to the more serious charge of delivery, prosecutors dropped a second charge for possession.

Hewitt also served prison time for two counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in 2011.

Prior to the sentencing, the court received letters from St. Vincent de Paul volunteers attesting to Hewitt’s character and his work with the nonprofit.

Hewitt was involved with the organization for nine years before becoming executive director in 2021. St. Vincent told The Bulletin after Hewitt’s arrest that the nonprofit was aware of Hewitt’s background when he was hired but believed him to be fully reformed, and that he had been a “stellar employee.”

As executive director, Hewitt spearheaded St. Vincent’s Place, a tiny-home village serving people transitioning out of homelessness. Bill Parks, a former executive director at St. Vincent said in a letter to the court he believed Hewitt to be one of the most qualified directors the nonprofit has ever had.

“He knew the pitfalls from his past but had a strong desire to create a future for himself,” Parks said.

St. Vincent’s board president Patty Christopher said the nonprofit is grateful the court took mercy on him but he should be in prison for what he did.

Hewitt declined an interview with The Bulletin. In a written statement he said: “The thing I regret the most is that I did not consider how my actions might affect other people. The selfish nature of what I did had consequences beyond myself. I am so very sorry for the damage this may have caused St. Vincent de Paul. I will now go pay the price for what I’ve done.”