A Franklin man has been sentenced to life in prison as a habitual offender.

Sixteenth Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Stanton Hardee said Eric Paul McClain, 32, of 507 Ninth St., Franklin, was sentenced as a third felony habitual offender to hard labor for the rest of his natural life without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

McClain was convicted on Sept. 26, 1997 of distribution of cocaine. On Jan. 18, 2008, he was convicted of attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and on Dec. 9, 2010 of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

“St. Mary Parish narcotics task force did super police work taking a career drug dealer off the streets for good,” Hardee said. “Three strikes and you are out! In Louisiana if you are convicted of three major drug felony crimes as McClain was, then you get a mandatory life sentence without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. McClain is permanently out of the cocaine business.”