Drugs, CCS violations round out docket

Two co-defendants in Coal Grove’s largest marijuana bust in the village’s history were sentenced in Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard’s courtroom Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to their charges.

William Moudy, 30, of 354 Foreman Ave. #310, Lexington, Kentucky, previously pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in marijuana, a third-degree felony, and was sentenced to three years in prison, with up to three years of post-release control, with credit for eight days served, and ordered to pay a fine.

Tyler Privette, 22, of 163 Crissy Street, Upton, Kentucky, previously pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in marijuana, a third-degree felony, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, ordered to pay court costs and had a handgun forfeited. A fourth-degree felony charge of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle was nullified as part of a plea deal.

In March of this year, Moudy and Privette, along with another female, were arrested in Coal Grove after being stopped for tag and break light infractions. Coal Grove Police K-9 Jango then alerted officers of small bags of marijuana found on the driver’s and passenger’s sides of the vehicle and 4.25 pounds of marijuana wrapped in vacuum-sealed packages in a smell proof duffle bag in the trunk.

Prior to being pulled over, Moudy, Privette and Madalyn Swisher, who was previously sentenced, went to the Coal Grove Speedway, where Privette allegedly dropped a handgun. A Coal Grove officer who was at Speedway at the time didn’t see the gun, however, the clerk noticed the gun and police were alerted.

The bust was the largest marijunana bust in Coal Grove’s history as well as the largest marijuana bust in Lawrence County in the past five years.

In other cases:

• Rachel Berkley, 30, of 2516 Carter Ave. Suite F, Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Sept. 13.

• David Dupree, 37, of 615 Fourth Street, Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded not guilty to five counts of receiving stolen property, fourth-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $10,000 cash or surety and $10,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Sept. 6.

• Mark Gaspers Jr., 35, of 275A County Road 52, Ironton, admitted community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Ballard sentenced him to six months in prison.

• Chadwick Goodrich, 40, of 2437 Fifth Street, Ironton, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor, as well as admitting CCS violations. Ballard set sentencing for Aug. 30.

• Christopher Kelley, 32, of 48 Township Road 1051, Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced him to six months in prison.

• Sheryl Logsdon, 47, of 197 County Road 1 Lot 56, South Point, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (heroin), a felony of the fifth degree. Ballard set bond at $5,000 cash or surety from a lower court and $10,000 OR.

• William Martin III, 36, of 614 10th Street, Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under Intensive Supervised Probation (ISP) and a three-year drivers license suspension.

• Miranda Porter, 22, of 412 McGovney Street, Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced her to one year in prison.

• Aaron Workman, 29, of 512 State Route 373, Pedro, pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, and theft, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $2,500 cash or surety from a lower court and $10,000 OR. Pretrial is set for Sept. 6.

• Brad Jenkins, 27, of 1107 S. Fourth Street, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $35,000 cash or surety and $35,000 OR. Pretrial is set for Sept. 3.

• Ryan Stephens, 19, of 401 N. Fifth Street, Ironton, previously pleaded guilty to theft, a felony of the fifth-degree. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, 200 hours community service, and ordered him to complete the STAR program as well as pay $6,207 in restitution to Citizens Bank of Ironton.

• Nathaniel Walsh, 33, of 71 Private Drive 65, Township Road 287, Chesapeake, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in heroin, fifth-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $10,000 cash or surety and $10,000 OR.

• Darrell Gore, 54, of 16 Township Road 616, South Point, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (Oxycodone), felonies of the third-degree, in Judge Charles Cooper’s courtroom, and admitted CCS violations in Ballard’s courtroom. Cooper sentenced him to three years in prison, and Ballard sentenced him to one year in prison for a total of four years.

• On the other side in Judge Charles Cooper’s courtroom, James Willis, 31, of 1405 S. Fourth Street, Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper set sentencing for Sept. 13.

• Amber Craft, 31, of 58 Private Drive 10472, Pedro, failed to appear for a CCS trial. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

• Michael Newcomb, 26, of 82 Private Drive 2564, South Point, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced him to one year in prison.

• Nichole Repp, 28, of 11003 Chalmer Ave., Warren, Michigan, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a third-degree felony. Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with three years reserved.

• Frank Smith, 63, of 4399 Bowman Hill Road, Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and obstructing justice, both third-degree felonies. Cooper sentenced him to three years in prison.

• Justin Casey, 27, of 124 Private Drive 910, State Route 522, Pedro, had an evaluation come back that states he is competent to stand trial. He is facing felonious assault and endangering children, both second-degree felonies. Cooper set pretrial for Sept. 13.

Cases involving Tina Campbell (Adkins), Brandon Justice, Timothy Jenkins, Marc Spelar, Dustin Boyd and Whittany Taylor are all continued.