People convicted of fourth and fifth degree felonies are often sentenced to community control sanctions, also known as probation, as a way of (hopefully) rehabilitating them and keeping them out of the prison system. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Several people who violated the strict rules of their probation answered their charges Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Timothy T. Sanders, 22, of 70 Private Drive 2560, Kitts Hill, admitted he used cocaine and tested positive for the use of oxycontin and/or percocet while he was on probation. Probationers are prohibited from using alcohol and drugs.

Judge D. Scott Bowling sentenced Sanders to four months in prison. Sanders was placed on probation after he pleaded guilty last year to charges of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property.

Chrissi Holland, 30, 306 Third St. W, South Point, admitted she violated her probation by testing positive for the use of opiates and benzodiazepines (commonly abused opiates include hydrocodone and oxycodone; commonly abused benzodiazepines are xanax, klonipin and valium).

Bowling sentenced her to six months of inpatient treatment at Mended Reeds.

Jamieann D. Jackson, 22, of 217 Township Road 219, South Point, admitted she violated her probation by testing positive for drug use.

Jackson’s attorney, Mike Davenport had asked for outpatient treatment for Jackson, but acknowledged Jackson’s own actions did not cast her in a positive light with court officials.

“She was on probation 11 months when she tested dirty and it was her first time but she tested dirty for five drugs,” Davenport said.

Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Jeff Smith argued against it.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Smith said. “We will consider (supporting) inpatient drug treatment. She has quite a bit of time over her head. She has $2,000 restitution from back in ’09 and there is no way to see (immediately) if she has paid on this. I don’t think it’s in her best interest or the community’s to let her have outpatient treatment.”

Bowling ordered Jackson to complete a relapse program at the STAR Community Justice Center but told her, “You’re on a short leash here.”

Jackson was on probation for an earlier burglary conviction.

Kevin G. Billups, 29, of 1669 12th Ave., Huntington, W.Va., pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen property (a car).

Bowling sentenced him to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation.