A Columbus man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has been given probation for his involvement in a drug case after a judge accepted his medical records confirming the diagnosis.

71-year-old Thomas Leffers, who has early onset of the disease, was sentenced to 18 months of probation for a marijuana sale in March. The judge also sentenced Leffers to 90 days in jail, but that could be waived if Leffers performs well on probation.

Leffers pleaded guilty in June to an attempted possession charge in a plea deal with the Platte County attorney’s office. In August, the judge postponed sentencing to allow Leffers to participate in a presentence report that would include a doctor’s confirmation of his medical condition.