Meth prevalent in cases

In a loaded Lawrence County Common Pleas Court docket on Wednesday, many defendants entered into not guilty pleas to charges. Drug charges involving methamphetamine are continuing to rise in numerous cases.

• Rachel Berkley, 30, of 2516 Carter Ave., Suite F, Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Judge Andy Ballard sentenced her to six months in jail with credit for six months served. Berkley was then released.

• Chanice R. Berry, 23, of 95 Private Drive 2404, Kitts Hill, denied community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Ballard set CCS trial for next week.

• John Davis, 27, of 150 Township Road 1086, Apt. 9, South Point, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and operating a motor vehicle while under suspension, both first-degree misdemeanors. Ballard set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR.

• Melissa Frederick, 50, of 1325 Prospect Ave., Worthington, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth-degree, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $15,000 cash or surety and $30,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Dec. 13.

• Isaac Hannon, 35, of 1530 S. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $100,000 cash or surety and $150,000 OR.

• Beauford Jones, 35, of 667 County Road 9, Crown City, pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property and forgery, both felonies of the fifth-degree. Ballard set bond at $10,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR.

• Corvin M. Kahassai, 25, of 1215 S. Ohio Ave., Columbus, pleaded not guilty to improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, trafficking in drugs (cocaine), a fifth-degree felony, possession of drugs (cocaine), also a felony of the fifth-degree, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Ballard set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Dec. 13.

• George Massie, 34, of 1116 County Road 182, Kitts Hill, pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Dec. 20.

• Tia Monday, 24, of 2276 State Route 75, Kenova, West Virginia, admitted CCS violations. Ballard ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds.

• Aaron J. Pemberton, 43, of 2519 S. Seventh St., Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced him to 11 months in jail with credit for 55 days served, and continued CCS.

• Vanessa Thibodauz, 29, of 106 Private Road 4649, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR and placed her on a GPS house arrest. Pretrial was set for Dec. 20.

• Benjamin Vanover, 40, of 96 Private Drive 1211, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony, possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a felony of the third-degree. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR and placed him on GPS monitoring. Pretrial was set for next week.

• Charles Waddell, 41, of 514 Railroad St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and in a separate case, pleaded guilty to failure to appear, a felony of the fourth-degree. Currently, he is being held on a $50,000 OR bond. Ballard set sentencing for two weeks.

• Bernard Waller, 28, of 21690 Bennett St., Detroit, Michigan, denied a final offer after previously pleading not guilty to trafficking in drugs (Oxycodone), a second-degree felony. Ballard set trial for Dec. 18 and 19.

• David A. Webb, 30, of 2913 Hamilton St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to four counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), all fourth-degree felonies, two counts of assault on a peace officer, both fourth-degree felonies, trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a felony of the third-degree, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for next week.

• Emily D. Clark, 29, of 2301 S. Sixth St., Apt. B, Ironton, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Judge Charles Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with three years reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR.

• Jackson T. Crabtree, 25, of 291 Township Road 156 N., South Point, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. In two separate cases, he also pleaded guilty to failure to appear, a felony of the fourth-degree, and attempt to commit a theft offense, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to a total of 36 months in prison for all three cases.

• Thomas Ratcliff, age and address unknown, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, one a third-degree felony and the other a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years in prison.

• Eric Roach, 40, of 3410 County Road 37, Scottown, admitted two CCS violations. Cooper sentenced him to one year in prison. In a separate case, he pleaded not guilty to domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony. Trial for that case is set for January.

• Johnathon C. Schweickart, 26, of 2616 S. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in heroin, all felonies of the fifth-degree. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 24 months reserved, and ordered him to pay a $1,250 fine and complete a drug assessment.

• Chad A. Sexton, 24, of 170 Township Road 335, Ironton, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a second-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years in prison with credit for time served.