Judges typically frown on drug use and new criminal charges when a person is on probation. Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge D. Scott Bowling was no exception Wednesday when Christopher Myers, 21, of 98 County Road 104, Chesapeake, admitted he tested positive for marijuana use when he was arrested in West Virginia and failed to report to his probation officer.

“I know I messed up,” Myers told Bowling, who sentenced Myers to eight months in prison. Myers was on probation for an earlier conviction on vandalism and breaking and entering charges.

Likewise Brittany N. Sparks, 26, of 147 Township Road 310 Ironton, admitted she violated her probation by testing positive for drug use when a probation officer paid a visit to her house. She also admitted she was keeping company with other known felons, which is another rule people placed on probation must adhere to when they are on probation, also known as community control sanctions. Bowling sentenced her to eight months in prison.

Also Wednesday, Lisa Howell, 43, of 2513 S. Fourth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs and complicity to aggravated trafficking in drugs. Bowling sentenced her to 18 months in prison.

Sandra Compston, 29, of 426 Private Drive 10461, Proctorville, pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery. In exchange, nine counts of forgery and misdemeanor charges of theft and receiving stolen property were dropped. Bowling sentenced her to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation (CCS/ISP) and ordered her to complete successfully a rehabilitation program at the STAR Community Justice Center.

Philip Tolliver, 26, of 59 Hammer Mill Road, Wurtland, Ky., was arraigned on charges of failure to comply with the order and signal of a police officer and resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, J.T. Holt. Bowling allowed a bond posted in municipal court to continue, added a $20,000 own recognizance (OR) bond and set a Feb. 29 pretrial conference.

Cory Crabtree, 18, of 301 Helen St., South Point, was arraigned on one count of burglary. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, J.T. Holt. Bowling allowed a bond posted in municipal court to continue and added a $25,000 OR bond to it. Crabtree must return to court Feb.22 for a pretrial conference.

Everett C. Dean, 22, of 24 Township Road 1336, Chesapeake, was arraigned on one count of tampering with evidence. He pleaded not guilty through Holt, who is also his attorney. Bowling allowed a bond posted in a lower court to continue but added a $20,000 OR bond to it. Dean must return to court Wednesday for a pretrial conference.

Daniel Lyons, 19, of 511 S. Ninth St., Ironton, was arraigned on one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, David Reid Dillon. Bowling set a $20,000 OR bond and ordered Lyons to stay away from his 16-year-old alleged victim. Lyons must return to court Feb. 29 for a pretrial conference.