Former Metro driver who sold cocaine from his bus gets year in prison

A former King County Metro Transit driver who sold crack cocaine on his route was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in prison.

Ricky Beavers, 54, pleaded guilty on May 6 to three counts of delivery of cocaine. In exchange for his plea, King County prosecutors agreed to recommend he serve a prison term at the low end of the sentencing range.

During Friday's sentencing hearing, Beavers apologized. His lawyer, David Gehrke, said that when Beavers was arrested he was using crack cocaine and selling the drug to support his habit.

"I have repented to the Lord and have turned my life around," Beavers said before Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez sentenced him.

Beavers' wife and his pastor were in court Friday to support him. Gehrke said Beavers, who has no prior criminal history, kicked his drug habit through religion.

The length of the sentence means Beavers will serve his time in state prison rather than county jail.

Beavers was arrested by King County sheriff's deputies and Metro Transit Police on Feb. 11 while he was driving Route 42 near South Leo Street and Beacon Avenue South.

The arrest came after an investigation lasting several weeks in which transit police made several undercover drug buys from Beavers, according to charging papers.

Some, but not all, of the buys were made aboard Metro buses, police said.

The sales, which ranged from $60 to $120 for 0.7 to 1.5 grams of cocaine, also took place at Beavers' house in South Seattle and in Tukwila, according to charging papers.

Though it is clear Beavers dealt crack while on his route, "we have no indication that he was selling to passengers," sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said. Rather, customers who knew the driver would meet him along his route and make their purchases, police said.

Police said the investigation was triggered by a tip from another Metro employee. Beavers has since resigned from Metro.

"This is the first time I can recall a situation of this nature, and we employ 2,200 operators," Metro spokeswoman Rochelle Ogershok said shortly after Beavers' arrest.

Information from Seattle Times archives is contained in this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com