Three defendants were sentenced to three-year prison sentences this week in the courtroom of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper. Drugs also continue to make up the majority of cases in the court.

• Urian Benicker, 35, of 711 ½ Vernon St., Ironton, previously pleaded guilty to complicity to aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to three years in prison with credit for time served.

• Stephanie Gallagher, 38, of 1563 N. Second St., Ironton, previously pleaded guilty to illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony, and two counts of possession of drugs (acetaminophen, Xanax), one fifth-degree felony and one first-degree misdemeanor. Cooper sentenced her to three years in prison.

• Mandy Johnson, 45, of 95 Private Drive 887, Ironton, admitted community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Cooper sentenced her to three years in prison.
In other cases:

• Pamela Criswell, 38, of 5942 Lake Bonita Road, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, 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 complete treatment at Mended Reeds.

• Kendra Griffiths, 35, of 621 S. Eighth St., Apt. A., Ironton, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (amphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. She rejected the state’s final offer of four years CCS under ISP and completing STAR, and is facing a maximum of one year in jail if found guilty at trial. Cooper set trial for Jan. 7, 2019.

• David Malanowski, 37, of 307 Fourth St. E., Apt. 1, South Point, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced him to four months in jail.

• Curtis Ratcliff, 43, of 77 Township Road 1019, South Point, pleaded not guilty to possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper set bond at $10,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for Nov. 14. Another CCS case was pushed forward to the pretrial date as well.

• Gregory Riggs, 28, of 7685 State Route 243, South Point, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. Cooper continued a $5,000 cash or surety bond from lower court. Pretrial was set for Nov. 21.

• Mark Saxton, 46, of 6663 Strattford Lakes Blvd., Winchester, previously pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to six months in prison.

• Steven Stamper-Clark, 19, of 4513 State Route 93, Ironton, previously pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with one year reserved, and ordered him to complete inpatient treatment at Mended Reeds.

• Nicholas Barton, 20, of 3106 County Road 12, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to aggravated arson, a first-degree felony and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. In another case, he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Judge Andy Ballard continued bond at $50,000 cash or surety from lower court and set a $100,000 OR bond. Ballard ordered for him to be evaluated.

• 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 misdemeanor of the first-degree. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $75,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Nov. 21.

• April Chandler, 35, of 58 Racetrack Hill, Raceland, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $15,000 OR.

• Reggie Crance, 28, of 17797 State Route 93, Pedro, pleaded guilty to two counts of identity fraud, both fifth-degree felonies. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard placed him on one-year CCS, ordered him to complete STAR and the Thinking for a Change program. He must also abstain from drugs and alcohol for one year.

• Joshua Cremeans, 38, of 1365 County Road 1, Apt. 7, South Point, pleaded not guilty to attempted burglary, a third-degree felony, and burglary, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR.

• Gary Fields, 57, of 396 County Road 70, Lot 3, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (Oxycodone), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard continued bond at $2,500 cash or surety from lower court. Pretrial was set for Nov. 14.

• Alisha Foster, 30, of 115 S. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony. Ballard continued bond at $2,000 cash or surety from lower court and set a $15,000 OR bond. Pretrial was set for Nov. 14.

• Bryton Harden, 23, of 3571 Balls Branch Road, Culloden, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth-degree. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered him to complete treatment at Mended Reeds, 200 hours community service and to abstain from alcohol and drugs for at least one year.

• Seth Harrison, 42, of 123 Township Road 1377, South Point, pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, both fourth-degree felonies. Ballard continued bond at $10,000 cash or surety from lower court and set a $20,000 OR bond.

• Gary Hicks, 43, of 1111 S. Third St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $15,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Nov. 21.

• Sean James, 26, of 412 Mill St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs (Adderall), a fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 17 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Joshua Kelley, 32, of 122 Center St., Coal Grove, denied CCS violations. Ballard set CCS trial for Dec. 7.

• Russell Kelly, of 448 Township Road 207, Pedro, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard placed him on one year CCS, and ordered him to complete treatment at Mended Reeds, 200 hours community service and to abstain from drugs and alcohol for at least one year.

• Timothy McComas, 33, admitted CCS violations. Ballard continued his CCS one year.

• Sean (Shawn) Sagraves, 28, of 900 County Road 15, South Point, pleaded guilty to complicity to burglary, a third-degree felony. Ballard set sentencing for Nov. 14.

• Kendra Sark, 40, of 4513 State Route 93, Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. She was elgible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and to abstain from drugs and alcohol for at least one year.

• Ryley Williams, 19, of 451 Mitchell Road, Gallipolis, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and two counts of possession of drugs (methamphetamine, Alprazolam), one fifth-degree felony and one first-degree misdemeanor. Ballard continued bond at $10,000 cash or surety from lower court. Pretrial was set for Nov. 27.