A 27-year-old man who blames drug use for his criminal past was ordered Thursday to serve 81/2 years in prison for having a modified gun in his hands when he ran from Kennewick police after a traffic stop.

Johnny Douglas Love II of Kennewick had asked the Benton County Superior Court judge to consider a Special Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative, but his request was denied.

Police got a 911 call at 1 a.m. Jan. 22 about a person with a gun in a black Jeep Cherokee outside a woman's home.

Officers had responded earlier that evening to the same house for reports of Love being there and making threats. Officers couldn't find the Jeep at that time.

Officer Aaron Hamel was in the area after the early-morning call and was waiting for backup when he saw a black Jeep Cherokee speed away and run a stop sign, court documents said. The Jeep stopped after Hamel turned on his emergency lights.

That's when Love got out of the SUV holding what appeared to be a gun, and ignored Hamel's orders to stop because he was under arrest. Love ran about 10 feet from the SUV before tossing a black, 12-gauge shotgun on the ground, then continued to run, documents said.

A police dog unit tracked Love to a nearby backyard shed. "I give up," Love reportedly said before being handcuffed, document said.

The shotgun had been modified so the barrel was just 12 inches long.

Federal law states that a shotgun cannot have a barrel shorter than 181/2 inches.

Love was ordered not to own or possess guns because of his prior felony convictions, including one in 2006 for second-degree burglary.

He pleaded guilty in September to first-degree unlawful possession of a gun, possessing a short-barreled shotgun and bail jumping.

In a letter he wrote to the judge before sentencing, Love acknowledged that his most recent charge is not drug related. However, his "extensive criminal history" is sufficient evidence of a severe drug problem and Love said he's a prime candidate for the program.

The court also received eight letters from his family and friends, asking that he get help for his addiction and learn some life skills so he could stay drug-free once when released.

Love's criminal history includes convictions for car theft, bail jumping, possessing methamphetamine, burglary, assault, theft and malicious mischief. He was 14 when he first was arrested for committing a crime.

Foster parent denies misconduct with child

A foster parent is accused of inappropriately touching a child.

David Wayne Murphey, 59, of Prosser pleaded innocent to second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. His trial is set to start Nov. 28.

According to court documents, the girl told Benton County sheriff's detectives that Murphey had sexual contact with her three times in five months.

The alleged contact included kissing the girl, fondling and grabbing and rubbing against her, documents said.

Murphey has been ordered to have no contact with the girl while the case is pending. He is free without bail.

Prosser woman faces Nov. 14 trial in stabbing

A Prosser woman pleaded innocent to allegations she stabbed her boyfriend in the back of the shoulder.

Judith Rodriguez, 26, is scheduled for trial Nov. 14 on one count of second-degree assault with domestic violence.

Prosser police were just told of the alleged assault on Sept. 19, three weeks after it happened.

Juan M. Morales, 34, called police after seeing Rodriguez grab a knife and conceal it, court documents said. When questioned about that incident, Morales told officers that his girlfriend didn't threaten him with the knife on that day, but "he feared she would stab him because she stabbed him in the recent past," documents said.

Morales reportedly couldn't remember the day, but claimed Rodriguez had attacked him a few weeks earlier. He did not immediately report the incident to police.

Rodriguez, in an interview with officers, said she grabbed the knife but only intended to cut herself with it, court documents said.

Prosecutors are seeking Morales' medical records before deciding if the charges against Rodriguez should be amended, documents said.

Rodriguez is being held in the Benton County jail on $10,000 bail.