Drugs continue to fill common pleas docket

A South Point man changed his plea from not guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity in a murder case from last December.

Russell Adkins, 38, of 197 County Road 1, Lot 56, South Point, is facing charges of aggravated murder, an unclassified felony, kidnapping, a felony of the first-degree, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

Adkins, along with co-defendant Brandy Miller, 34, of Chesapeake, is accused of causing the death of Larry Scott Stephenson on or about Dec. 1 or Dec. 2, 2017. Miller was the girlfriend of Stephenson, and Adkins is accused of beating Stephenson unconscious before he and Miller drove him to an abandoned house, tied his hands and feet together, and left him there until deputies discovered his body days later.

Back in March, Miller pleaded guilty to complicity to aggravated murder, an unclassified felony, and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years in the courtroom of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper. In exchange for her guilty plea, the state agreed to nolle charges of first-degree complicity to kidnapping and third-degree tampering with evidence.

With Adkins’ plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, Cooper ordered for him to be evaluated to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

In other cases:

• Brianna Bond, age and address unknown, admitted community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Cooper sentenced her to 22 months in prison.

• Justin Hackworth, 20, of 272 Township Road 615, South Point, denied CCS violations. Cooper set CCS trial for Aug. 22.

• James Chapman, 51, of 5400 Altizer Ave., Lot 37, Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (hydrocodone), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to nine months in prison.

• Mark Anthony Saxton, 45, of 6663 Strattford Lakes Blvd., Winchester, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (fentanyl), a fifth-degree felony, and in another case, possession of heroin, also a fifth-degree felony. He rejected the state’s final offer of 11 months in prison, and is facing a maximum of 12 months in prison if found guilty at trial.

• Candace Skaggs, 37, of 1924 Lee Ave., Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 11 months reserved, and ordered her to continue receiving treatment in Huntington.

• Franklin Aldridge, 36, of 801 S. Seventh St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $10,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Aug. 22.

• Amber Cade, 29, listed as homeless, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. She was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered her to complete drug treatment and testing, and 200 hours community service.

• Scott Christian, 38, of 662 State Route 650, Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Ballard placed him on GPS home confinement for 60 days, ordered him to complete 100 hours community service and pay court costs, and extended his CCS one year.

• Walter Gipson, 35, of 1304 W. Collins St., Flatwoods, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony, and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, also a fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to 123 days in jail. In addition, $500 and a handgun were forfeited in the case to the South Point Police Department.

• Richard Heaberlin II, 49, of 1936 Ora Richey Road, Ironton, or 615 S. 10th St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He was also sentenced on a CCS violation that he previously admitted to. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 22 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and pay court costs.

• Edward Holsinger, 48, of 1119 S. Third St., Ironton, or 1115 S. Third St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of drugs (hydrocodone), both fifth-degree felonies. Ballard continued bond at $10,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Aug. 15.

• Wanda Jenkins, 55, of 401 Center St., Apt. 8, Ironton, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, possession of drugs (Diazepam), a first-degree misdemeanor, and resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor. Ballard sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with 30 months reserved, and ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and pay court costs.

• Jennifer Kelly, 36, of 4900 Boyd St., Lot 1, Ashland, Kentucky, denied CCS violations. Ballard set CCS trial for Aug. 8.

• Amethyst Marcum, 24, of 207 Locust St., Coal Grove, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard continued bond at $5,000 cash or surety from lower court and set a $25,000 OR bond. Pretrial was set for Sept. 5.

• Jordan Marcum, 25, of 207 Locust St., Coal Grove, pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $6,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Aug. 22.

• Charles Riley, 30, of 203 Township Road 1430, Apt. 3, South Point, admitted CCS violations. Ballard ordered him to complete STAR, and he will remain in jail until a bed at STAR opens.

• Aaron Runyon, age and address unknown, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered him to complete drug treatment and testing.

• Shawn Sagraves, 28, of 900 County Road 15, South Point, or 1017 S. 10th St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to complicity to burglary, a third-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $75,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Aug. 8.

• Andrew Shepherd, 23, of 14 S. Illinois Ave., Wellston, previously pleaded not guilty to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony, two counts of assault on a peace officer, both fourth-degree felonies, possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and possession of heroin, also a felony of the fifth-degree. He rejected the state’s final offer of four years in prison, and is facing a maximum of eight years behind bars if found guilty at trial. Ballard set trial for Aug. 21-22.

• Michael Short Jr., 29, of 1124 S. Fourth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), both third-degree felonies. Ballard sentenced him to four years in prison and ordered him to pay court costs.

• Robert Stevens, 31, of 315 Ridgeway St., Coal Grove, previously pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and rejected the state’s final offer of four years CCS under ISP with three years reserved and completing STAR. In addition, he may face additional charges for missing a previous court date. Ballard set bond at $150,000 cash or surety and $150,000 OR. Another pretrial in the case is set for Aug. 22, where he will get a final offer. If he denies, trial is set for Sept. 10-11.

• Brandi Traylor, 35, of 32 Private Drive 2089, South Point, admitted CCS violations. Ballard continued her CCS with 11 months reserved, sentenced her to 14 days in jail, and ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds.