Drugs make majority of cases

Three defendants were sentenced to prison Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. Drug charges also continue to make up the majority of all cases heard.

• Jessica R. Withrow, 33, of 403 Memorial St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in drugs (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine), one third-degree felony and three fourth-degree felonies. Judge Andy Ballard sentenced her to three years in prison.

• Brian Benicker, 37, address listed as Lawrence County Jail, Ironton, pleaded guilty to three counts of intimidation, all third-degree felonies. Judge Charles Cooper sentenced him to two years in prison.

• Daniel M. Wheeler, 54, of 2299 County Road 411, Proctorville, previously pleaded guilty to assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony, and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. Cooper sentenced him to 17 months in prison.

• Candice McFann, 33, address unknown, admitted community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Ballard sentenced her to three months in prison.

In other cases:

• Shannon M. Belcher, 42, of 204 B. Township Road 1403, Apt. 14, South Point, previously pleaded not guilty to illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. She failed a drug screen, and Ballard increased her bond to $30,000 cash or surety.

• Deon S. Cunningham, 20, of 936 Monroe Ave., Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana, a third-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with three years reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Derick M. Nance, 29, of 81 Township Road 1377, South Point, pleaded guilty to trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), also a felony of the fifth-degree. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Kevin A. Newcomb, 30, of 689 County Road 52, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. In another case, he denied CCS violations. Ballard set bond at $10,000 OR and CCS trial for June 20. He will remain in jail due to his CCS case.

• James H. Chaffins, 57, of 645 A. Coal Bank Hollow, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs (morphine sulfate, morphine), both fourth-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $20,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR, and ordered him to be placed on GPS monitoring. Pretrial was set for June 27.

• William Z. Earls, 29, of 183 Township Road 1317, Apt. 7, South Point, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $1,000 cash or surety and $15,000 OR. Pretrial was set for June 27.

• George Followay, 33, of 1302 Walnut St., Kenova, West Virginia, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and in another case, pleaded not guilty to failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for June 27.

• Codi L. Garretson, 24, of 706 Township Road 111, Ironton, pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with 17 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR.

• Danny Spurlock, 25, of 15145 Amber Lane, State Route 3, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), also a felony of the fifth-degree. Cooper continued OR bond from lower court and set a $10,000 cash or surety bond. Pretrial was set for July 3.

• Brenton D. Ford, 28, of 415 Etna St., Russell, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to grand theft, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 12 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Deborah Ostby, 29, address unknown, denied CCS violations. Ballard set CCS trial for June 20.

• Benjamin Vanover, 41, of 96 Private Drive 1211, Proctorville, changed his plea to charges of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, escape, a third-degree felony, and vandalism, a fifth-degree felony, from guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity. Ballard ordered for him to be evaluated.

• Todd E. McFann, 44, of 657 County Road 119, Ironton, denied CCS violations. Cooper set CCS trial for June 27.