Probation violations were chief among matters that got attention Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Jeremy McMillian, 29, 3706 S. Third St., Ironton, admitted he violated his probation by failing to report to his probation officer.

“It was a complete misunderstanding on my part,” McMillian told Visiting Judge Richard Walton. McMillian was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

William Pernell Jr., 51, of 937 County Road 138, Ironton, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. The charge had previously been a fourth-degree felony. Walton sentenced Pernell to six months in jail but suspended three months of it. Walton further fined Pernell $1,000, suspended his driver’s license two years and placed him on two years probation.

“He admits his culpability in this thing,” Pernell’s attorney, Warren Morford said. “He wants to get this behind him and get back to his family.”

Pernell apologized to Walton and promised him, “I won’t ever be back in here ever again and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

Walton lectured Pernell that if he intended in the future to drink, he should not drive afterward.

Terry Rice, 29, 2423 S. Ninth St., Ironton, admitted he violated his probation by failing to report to his probation officer. Rice was convicted on burglary in 2008. He was given a judicial release in February 2010 and placed on probation. But he failed to report to his probation officer.

“He started out working, taking care of an elderly mother and just got caught up in life,” Morford explained.

“I was taking care of my son, my mother. I figured if I did what I was supposed to do I would be okay,” Rice added.

Walton sentenced him to 18 months in prison.