Drug abuse was a common discussion point when defendants came to Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Cheryl Caplinger, 40, of 2316 1/2 S. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs and to violating her probation from an earlier conviction by acquiring the new charges and tested positive for drug use.

Judge D. Scott Bowling sentenced her to a total of 17 months in prison and ordered her to surrender her driver’s license for six months.

He denied a request for a brief furlough before Caplinger is sent to prison but allowed her to have a supervised courtroom visit with her family.

Jackie Miller, 50, of 411 Walnut St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and one count of complicity to aggravated trafficking in drugs.

Bowling sentenced him to a total of four years in prison and fined him a total of $30,000. The judge also suspended his driver’s license for six months.

“My wife died and I fell apart,” Miller told Bowling, when Miller was asked if he had anything to say.

As was the case with Caplinger, Miller wanted a brief furlough before being sent to prison, to give him time to get his affairs in order. His attorney, J.T. Holt, said a friend is willing to let Miller stay with him while he is out of custody. Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Bob Anderson opposed the request.

“I appreciate what he is saying but the six counts are the problem, the number of instances and the seriousness of the charges,” Anderson said.

Bowling denied the furlough request but allowed a supervised courtroom visit for his family.

Claudetta Clutters, 49, of 2316 ½ S. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs and to violating her probation when she got into trouble on these new charges.

Bowling sentenced her to a total of 17 months in prison. As in the other two cases, her request for a brief furlough before she is sent to prison was denied but she was granted a supervised courtroom visit with family.

Christina Anderson Willis, 33, of 45 Township Road 248 W, Kitts Hill, pleaded guilty on a bill of information to one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs. Bowling sentenced her to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation (CCS/ISP).

By pleading guilty on a bill of information, Willis bypasses the grand jury process, admits her guilt and proceeds to sentencing.