Arraignments prominent on court docket

Published 9:42 am Monday, April 2, 2012

Arraignments for various charges brought several people to Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Wednesday.

Kenneth Smith, 47, of 825 S. 10th St., Ironton, was arraigned on one count of trafficking in marijuana. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Warren Morford.

Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Mack Anderson said a $20,000 cash bond was set in Ironton Municipal Court and he asked Judge D. Scott Bowling to allow that bond to continue and add an own recognizance (OR) bond to it.

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“He has priors (prior convictions),” Anderson said. “He’s been to prison and he is on probation.”

But Morford countered the evidence against Smith was “not very substantial” and that the alleged marijuana has not been tested or weighed to determine if it is in fact marijuana and how much of it there is. He asked for a $5,000 OR bond.

Bowling allowed the municipal court bond to continue and added a $20,000 OR bond to it. Smith must return to court in two weeks for a pretrial conference.

A woman who attended Smith’s arraignment told both Anderson and a Tribune reporter she lived at 825 S. 10th St. and that Smith did not live with her.

Anderson explained that the address was the one Smith provided to authorities when he was arrested and now part of the official record.

Also Wednesday, Jeffrey Row, 38, of 198 Township Road 1106, Proctorville, was arraigned on one count of forgery and one count of receiving stolen property. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, David Reid Dillon. Bowling allowed a bond posted in a lower court to continue and ordered Row to return to court April 11 for a pretrial conference.

Stanley Sharp, 44 of 2524 County Road 15, South Point, was arraigned on one count of failure to report a change of address. Stanley is a registered sex offender and is required by law to notify authorities if he moves to a new house.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Mike Davenport. Bowling allowed an own recognizance (OR) bond set in a lower court to continue and added a $7,500 cash or surety bond to it. He must return to court Wednesday for a pretrial conference.

James Costello, 30, of Apt. 19, 28 Township Road 1430, South Point, was arraigned on one count of failure to comply with the order and signal of a police officer.

Costello pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Luke Styer. Bowling allowed a $10,000 cash or surety bond set in a lower court to continue and added a $10,000 OR bond to it.

Costello must return to court April 11 for a pretrial conference.

Julian J. Russell, 31, of 766 Township Road 278S, Chesapeake, was arraigned on a bill of information to two counts of breaking and entering. He pleaded not guilty through Styer, who is also his attorney. Bowling set a $20,000 OR bond and scheduled a pretrial conference for this week.

Christopher Lovins, 32, of 76 Private Drive 3, Chesapeake, was arraigned on one count of theft.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, John Kehoe. Bowling set a $20,000 OR bond and ordered Lovins to submit to electronically monitored home confinement. Lovins must return April 18 for a pretrial conference.