Drugs involved in majority of court cases

A Coal Grove woman is facing 15 years in prison on several drug charges, if found guilty at trial and convicted for everything, after rejecting the state’s final offer Wednesday in the courtroom of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper.

• Christina Anderson, 40, of 2023 State Route 243, Coal Grove, previously pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, two counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), both fourth-degree felonies, and aggravated trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a felony of the second-degree. She rejected the state’s final offer of five years in prison, and is facing a maximum of 15 years behind bars if convicted of everything at trial. Judge Charles Cooper set trial for Nov. 11.

In other cases:

• Thomas Arthur III, 39, of 1424 State Route 775, Proctorville, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs (alprazolam, methamphetamine), one fifth-degree felony and one fourth-degree felony. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Cooper ordered him to complete treatment and 200 hours community service.

• Willis Cochran, 56, of 5202 State Route 93, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. Cooper set bond at $5,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for Oct. 31.

• Marian Fields, 46, of 115 Grove St., Russell, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony. Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with three years reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR.

• Mandy Johnson, 45, of 95 Private Drive 887, Ironton, denied CCS violations. Cooper set CCS  trial for Oct. 31.

• Michael Meadows, 30, of 2360 Clandon Road, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to six months in prison with credit for time served.

• Jepsey Murrell, 48, of 101 Wilson Drive, Coal Grove, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced her to 300 days in jail with credit for time served.

• Christopher Ratliff, 28, of 1648 State Route 503, Wurtland, Kentucky, admitted CCS violations. Cooper continued his CCS with 17 months reserved, and ordered him to complete inpatient treatment at Spectrum Outreach Services.

• Mark Anthony Saxton, 46, of 6663 Strattford Lakes Blvd., Winchester, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper set sentencing for Oct. 31.

• David Barry, 49, of 111C Fairview Drive, South Point, pleaded not guilty to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, a third-degree felony. A specification to the count was that he has had more than five DUI offenses within the past 20 years. Judge Andy Ballard continued bond at $10,000 cash or surety from lower court and set a $25,000 OR bond. Pretrial was set for Nov. 7.

• Anthony Biggs, 27, listed as homeless, Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years community-controlled sanctions (CCS) under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 17 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• James Brewer, 30, of 78 Campground Road, Waterloo, pleaded not guilty to two counts of forgery, both fifth-degree felonies, and misuse of a credit card, a first-degree misdemeanor. Ballard continued a $1,000 cash or surety bond from lower court and set a $15,000 OR bond. Pretrial was set for Oct. 31.

• Shawn Crabtree, 43, of 12361 Kiosville Palestine Road, Mount Sterling, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and possession of drug abuse instruments, a second-degree misdemeanor. He tested positive on his drug screen, and Ballard increased his bond to $100,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Oct. 30.

• Mary Groves, 39, of 915 N. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (Acetaminophen/hydrocodone), a fifth-degree felony. She was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and 200 hours community service.

• Edward Holmes Jr., 40, of 723 Mulberry St., Ironton, previously pleaded not guilty to intimidation, a third-degree felony, and aggravated menacing, a misdemeanor of the first-degree. He previously had a mental evaluation that found that he was incompetent to stand trial, and was referred to Appalachian Behavior Health. After undergoing another evaluation, which was accepted on Wednesday, he was found competent to stand trial. Ballard set bond at $100,000 OR and placed him on GPS home confinement until his next pretrial, which was set for Oct. 24.

• T.J. Jenkins Jr., 34, of 195Township Road 1368, Proctorville, previously pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. He tested positive on his drug screen, and Ballard increased his bond to $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Oct. 17.

• D. Scott Lambert, 53, of 108 Higgins St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana, a third-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 36 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service. A 9mm handgun was also forfeited in the case.

• Melissa LeGrand, 42, of 881 Township Road 204, Willow Wood, previously pleaded not guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs (heroin), and aggravated possession of drugs (heroin), both felonies of the fourth-degree. In another case, she denied CCS violations. Ballard set trials in both for Dec. 3-4.

• Emory Markel, 38, of 2739 S. Eighth St., Ironton, previously pleaded not guilty to trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony. She tested positive on her drug screen and Ballard increased her bond to $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR.

• Chastity Payne, 26, of 813 County Road 15, South Point, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and in another case, failure to appear, a felony of the fourth-degree. Ballard sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with 17 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Paul Rockel, 33, of 711 Etna St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR.

• Mary Ross, 47, of 308 Third St., Russell, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. She was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP and ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and 200 hours community service.