A Steelton man told a Lancaster County judge Thursday a jury wrongly convicted him Monday on drug and gun charges.

Judge Paul K. Allison sentenced Lonnie Alexander "Bobby" Stewart to 5 to 10 years in state prison anyway.

Stewart, 36, insisted he was innocent.

"I didn't know there were drugs or guns in the car," Stewart said. "Honest, that's God's truth."

Manheim Township police arrested Stewart and Donell P. Brantley Jr., 21, about 3 a.m. Sept. 26, 2005, after stopping them for driving erratically in the 1200 block of Lititz Pike, according to court documents.

Officer Thomas Miles contacted the owner of the Mazda 626, who was not with the two men, and received permission to search it.

Miles found a duffel bag containing a loaded handgun, 24 grams of cocaine, $1,900 cash and drug paraphernalia. A second loaded handgun was found under the bag, according to court documents.

Police determined Stewart was wanted in Harrisburg for violating parole.

Stewart admitted to police he was smoking marijuana while driving from York to Lancaster but denied knowing about the drugs and gun, according to court documents.

A jury found Stewart guilty of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of a small amount of marijuana and carrying a firearm without a license.

After a bench trial, a judge also found Stewart guilty of illegal possession of a firearm.

It was Stewart's third felony drug conviction, according to court documents.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Larsen prosecuted Stewart.

Larsen told Allison Thursday that Stewart has been in and out of prison since 1993 and is a "menace to society."

"(Stewart) has six kids with six different women, no work history at age 36 and is divorced because his wife called his (parole officer) on him," Larsen said. "He has had lots of opportunities to turn his life around.

"He is not a good candidate for rehabilitation."

Defense attorney Douglas Conrad asked Allison for leniency.

"(Stewart) has high blood pressure and heart problems for which he requires nitroglycerin pills," Conrad said. "He learned to get by with (a life of crime) from his father. He lacks education and has problems reading and writing."

Stewart also told Allison that Brantley blamed him for the guns and drugs found in the car.

"I'm here for being a friend," Stewart said. "He was high, and so was I, but I could drive. I'm hurt about it because he couldn't be a man and own up to it."

Brantley pleaded guilty Feb. 1 to various drug and gun charges. He is awaiting sentencing.

E-mail Brett Lovelace at blovelace@lnpnews.com.