WATERLOO - A Waterloo man was sent to prison for opening fire in a crowded courtyard and possessing a large amount of crack cocaine.

Judge Todd Geer sentenced Marvin Jackson, 21, to up to 10 years in prison Monday in Black Hawk County District Court.

Jackson had been facing 22 years in connection with the separate cases.

But Geer chose to run his sentences concurrent because of his young age and "special needs," which had been a competency issue.

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison," Jackson told the court. "I have goals."

Jackson had been in jail for about two and a half years awaiting trial on the cases. A jury found him guilty of the shooting during trial in May, and he pleaded guilty to the drug offenses the following week.

"I was young, and I was into the streets," Jackson said, his voice barely audible. "I just want a second chance."

Police said Jackson opened fire on Dartavious Dixon as Dixon crossed the green space at Cedar Crest Apartments while children played nearby Oct. 6, 2006. Dixon wasn't injured.

Prosecutor Brad Walz, who had pushed for the 22-year sentence, noted Jackson had been out on bail awaiting trial for the shooting when police investigating a noise complaint caught him with 84 rocks of crack cocaine some six months later.

Walz noted that usually seven or eight rocks is considered a large amount of crack.

Public Defender Matthew Hoffey said his client was "used as a pawn in these two cases."

He noted a pre-sentence investigation and psychologists report found Jackson to be a "follower, not a leader."

Jackson was arrested in March 2007 for the shooting, and at one point the case was put on hold because he was found incompetent to stand trial.

The court later found him competent during a follow-up hearing.

Jurors convicted him of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and carrying weapons.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver and violation of the drug tax stamp act.