MARION COUNTY — A 32-year-old Salem man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Marion County Court to a lesser charge of being a felon in possession of a weapon in exchange for two other charges being dismissed.

Anthony R. Hays was sentenced to four years in prison for the offense and will serve it concurrently with a 30 months sentence for an October 2020 conviction.

Hays was arrested in the latest case in July when upon seeing a Salem police officer, Hays reportedly put down a backpack he was carrying, walked behind a nearby vehicle where he dropped down, and came back to the backpack.

When the officer went to search the area behind the vehicle a baggie was found containing less than 5 grams of a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

According to Officer Craig Vieira, Hays was on parole at the time and was subject to a search of his person and belongings at any time.

A search of the backpack revealed an operable stun gun and what is suspected to be multiple Fentanyl pills or “beans.” The pills have been sent to the State Police Crime Lab for testing.

Hays was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail where he was charged with Class X felony armed violence for the stun gun, Class 3 felonies for possession of less than 5 grams of meth, and being a felon in possession of a weapon.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday to the weapon charge in exchange for the other two charges being dismissed.