A man prosecutors say is a career cocaine dealer escaped conviction on charges that could have landed him in prison for most of his life as jurors chose to find him guilty on simple possession charges.While Jimmy Tyrone Wilkerson, 40, faces sentencing for his misdemeanor conviction, he still isn’t out of the woods. He faces potential trial on a separate charge of drug trafficking, a charge that if convicted could cost him 40 years in prison given his prior record.His first hurdle at spending what would amount to a lifetime behind bars was cleared recently when jurors refused to convict him on charges of delivery of cocaine. The case was brought against him during a traffic stop last year in which police reported finding white powder residue and digital scales.