Ironton woman gets four years in prison for drug offences

Published 12:00 am Sunday, July 17, 2011

An Ironton woman will serve four years in prison for drug charges.

Jennifer Cochran, 30, of 3490 County Road 181, Ironton, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court to two counts of third-degree aggravated trafficking in drugs.

Judge Charles Cooper sentenced Cochran to four years in prison and ordered that she forfeit $622.

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Cochran said the charges and sentence was a “reality check” and that it saved her life.

In other cases:

Matthew Lindsey, 21, of 56 Township Road 1057, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering, felony theft and misdemeanor theft.

Cooper transferred bond from a lower court and also imposed a $10,000 recognizance bond and scheduled a pretrial hearing for July 27.

Randall Camp, 40, of 1202 S. Second St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering, theft from an elderly person, contributing to the unruliness of a minor and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cooper set bond at $5,000 cash or surety and scheduled a pretrial hearing for Aug. 3.

Jessie L. Devaney, 21, of 202 Park Ave. Apt 2, South Point, was sentenced to approximately three years in prison for violating his community control sanctions by not completing a program at the STAR Community Justice Center in Franklin Furnace.

Cooper ruled that Devaney had violated his CCS followings a short trial Wednesday. Devaney will get credit for time served.

Jessica Dye, 31, of 3830 Cactus St., Ashland, Ky., admitted to violating the terms of her community control sanctions by failing to pay restitution.

Cooper extended Dye’s CCS and ordered that she pay $50 per month in restitution. Dye and a co-defendant are required to pay a total of $31,000 in restitution, Lawrence County Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Smith said.

Lowney E. Dossey, 29, of 716 Township Road 140 W., Pedro, pleaded not guilty to escape. Cooper set bond at $100 ,000 cash and scheduled a pretrial hearing for July 27.

Amanda Dempsey, 27, of 1403 County Road 171, Scottown, pleaded guilty to criminal simulation. Cooper sentenced Dempsey to four years of CCS, which includes successfully completing a program at the STAR Community Justice Center.

Eleven months in prison have been reserved for Dempsey in the event that she violates the terms of her CCS.

Randall Artrip, 22, of 1979 Township Road 266, Kitts Hill, pleaded not guilty to first-degree rape. Cooper set bond at $200,000 and scheduled a pretrial hearing for July 27.

Samantha Roark, 29, of 1369 28th St., Huntington, W.Va., pleaded guilty to illegal possession of drug documents.

Cooper sentenced Roark to four years CCS and reserved 11 months for her in prison in case she violates CCS. Roark was also ordered to pay a $1,250 fine and her driver’s license was suspended six months.

Ronnie Rowe, 58, of 92 Private Road 2562 County Road 22, Ironton, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to burglary, two counts of assault on a police officer and criminal damaging.

Rowe’s defense attorney, Richard Wolfson, unsuccessfully argued for a property bond so that Rowe could be released to the care of his brother. The man needs medication for mental illness that the county jail does not allow inmates to take, Wolfson said.

Smith said he was unaware of any such policy at the Lawrence County Jail.

Cooper set bond at $100,000 cash and asked that Rowe be sent for a competency and a medical evaluation as soon as possible. A pretrial hearing is set for July 27.

Aaron Fields, 22, of 104 Remy St., Coal Grove, admitted violating his CCS. Fields had been sentenced to STAR and had successfully completed the program but had since relapsed into drug.

Cooper said a lot of discussion had gone into how best to help Fields overcome his drug problem. The judge sentenced him to 12 months in prison.