Guilty on nine counts

Judge Andrew Ballard sentenced Steve Akers, 50, of Pedro, to 10 years in prison on Wednesday morning.

Akers was found guilty of nine counts total, including six counts of trafficking in oxycodone, one count of possessing a weapon while under disability, one count of trafficking in marijuana with specifications for the possession of a gun and having $2,487 in cash on hand, and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt behavior.

Ballard also sentenced Charles Hall, Jr., 28, of Ironton, to 8 months in prison on charges of felonious assault.

In other action on Wednesday, Ballard set a pretrial date in July for Victor Bradshaw, 53, of Ironton, and set bond at $10,000 cash or surety. Bradshaw, who is accused of trafficking in oxycodone and possession of oxycodone, tested positive for drugs prior to his Wednesday trial date.

Jennifer Kelly, 35, of Ashland, also had her pretrial rescheduled for failing urinalysis. She tested positive for both marijuana and suboxone. Kelly is charged with tampering with evidence, endangering a child, and possession of clonazepam.

Kelly claimed that she tested positive for marijuana because she had smoked three weeks prior, before being placed under court orders, but was still registering positive.

Her attorney also supplied a letter showing that Kelly was undergoing drug treatment that included suboxone therapy. Kelly was ordered to return June 7 for another pretrial hearing.

William Moudy, 30, of Lexington, had his pretrial set for Aug. 9 on charges of trafficking in marijuana.

Donald Pace, 32, of Chesapeake, pleaded not guilty to burglary in the second degree. Ballard set trial for July 7 and maintained bond at $50,000 cash or surety, but acting on requests from defense he allowed an alternate bond of $25,000 property bond and $50,000 own recognizances, if Pace is unable to meet the $50,000 cash or surety bond.

Defense attorney Philip Heald told the court that in instances where his clients could not meet the bond, it made it difficult to consult with them privately. He said it was particularly problematic if they were housed in remote jails.

Michael Rucker, 57, of Ironton, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in morphine and one count of trafficking in oxycodone, and had his bond set at $100,000 own recognizances, $40,000 cash or surety, and $75,000 property bond.

Danny Sellards, 35, of South Point, admitted to CCS violations and pleaded guilty to complicity to trafficking, and was sentenced to four years community control sanctions and ordered to complete a program at STAR, 200 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $30,914.30 in unpaid back child support that he had previously been ordered to pay. If

Sellards fails to complete the requirements of his sentencing, he has 11 months of time reserved under the CCS violation and 17 months reserved under the complicity charge, to run consecutively for a total of 28 months.

Jeffrey L. Thompson, 57, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and was sentenced to four years of community control sanctions with intensive supervised probation, ordered to complete a 45 day program with the V.A. and then complete an in-patient rehab program, and to complete 200 hours of community service.

Defense Attorney Warren Morford entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity for his client, William McKee, 47, of Ashland.

McKee, who is charged with violation of a protective order, refused to sign a form for proceeding on arraignment or to cooperate with Morford, focusing instead on blood pressure medication that he claimed he hadn’t received while in jail rather than the charges before him.

McKee had to be warned twice about foul language as well, risking charges of contempt of court.

While McKee told Ballard that he could read and had finished high school, he repeatedly said that he did not understand the charges against him, or why he couldn’t talk about the blood pressure medicine he said that he needed.

When Morford tried to explain that release on bond would also be contingent on his compliance with the protective order, he asked Morford why he wasn’t allowed to have a conversation with the person covered by the protective order.

McKee also objected to Morford’s entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on his behalf, saying that he hadn’t agreed to that.

Ballard noted that any such plea would require an assessment of competency.

“I believe, based on my interactions with him, that is my appropriate first step,” explained Morford.

Danny J. Martin, 61, of South Point, had his case continued. Martin was in Ballard’s courtroom on two counts of trafficking in heroin and two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine. But he also appeared in Judge Charles Cooper’s courtroom on Wednesday on CCS violations. Prosecution said that they are looking at presenting an offer that would address all charges.

Martin denied the CCS violations while in Cooper’s court.

In other action in Cooper’s courtroom, Robert Goldsby, 29, of Ironton, was sentenced to six years in prison on a charge of F2 burglary.

Travis Reed, 38, of Huntington, pleaded not guilty to a charge of F4 burglary, and had his bond set at $6,000 cash or surety and $10,000 own recognizances.

Brandon Spencer, 34, of Proctorville, accepted his final offer, pleading guilty to count one, kidnapping, and count two, assault, with other counts and case 13-175 nullified. Spencer was sentenced to three years on count one and seven years on count two, to run concurrently, for a total of seven years.

Christopher Young, 25, of Ironton, pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to notify law enforcement of a change in his address. Bond in Young’s case will be set at a future date.