By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

ATTLEBORO — A local man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to various drug and illegal gun offenses in Taunton Superior Court.

According to a press release from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, Kevin Beland, 42, of 11 Beland Ave., was convicted of trafficking more than 14 grams of cocaine, possessing an illegal firearm without a Firearm Identification Card, unlawful possession of ammunition, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and possession of an illegal firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Beland was sentenced to serve five years in state prison, to be followed by five years of probation. If Beland is charged with any new crimes during his five year probationary period, he will have to serve an additional five years in prison, according to Gregg Miliote, Director of Communications for the District Attorney’s Office.
Beland was arrested by Attleboro Police after a June 4, 2007 raid at his home.
The raid was the result of a two-month undercover investigation in which Beland sold cocaine to a confidential informant on five occasions while working under police surveillance.
According to Miliote, Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter had been prepared to go to trial on Wednesday in the case of the Commonwealth vs. Beland. However, Beland opted to instead plead guilty rather than have the case proceed to trial.
Miliote said the sentence imposed highlights Sutter’s office policy to recommend consecutive sentences any time a defendant is charged with a combination of illegal firearms and drug trafficking crimes.