NORWICH – A Norwich man was sentenced to another year-and-a-half of incarceration on Monday after telling court officials that he would get out in six months and would likely be doing drugs as soon as he did.

Matthew J. Neer, 37, of Norwich pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony; after he admitted to the Chenango County Court that he was trying to sell two grams of methamphetamine on April 5 in the City of Norwich.

Neer was sentenced to participate in the judicial diversion program and put on interim probation while he underwent treatment court.

In Chenango County Court on Monday, Neer was charged with violating the terms of his probation after officials said he tested positive for meth in less than two weeks after his release from jail.

When court officials told Neer that he had wasted a gift and an opportunity to make life improvements, Neer responded, “Gift? Everyone else gets rehab.”

When told that he would get help in prison, Neer added, “Get help in prison? I can get drugs easier there than I can down on the street.”