The drug epidemic in the region and throughout the country remains a continuing problem, and the majority of cases in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court this week are directly related to drugs.

• Carrie Y. Barnes, 36, of 1715 Township Road 179, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs (Amphetamine, Dextroaphetamine), all third-degree felonies. Judge Andy Ballard set bond at $30,000 cash or surety and $75,000 property. Pretrial was set for Jan. 31.

• Lisa Cartwright, 40, of 402 Brubaker Drive, South Point, admitted community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Ballard ordered her to complete STAR and 200 hours community service. The state reserved 28 months in prison.

• John Davis, 27, of 98 Township Road 352, South Point, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and obstructing official business, a misdemeanor of the second-degree. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 11 months reserved.

• Richard Ferguson, 31, of 1920 Liberty Ave., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to five counts of trafficking in marijuana, all fourth-degree felonies. Ballard set trial for Feb. 12 and 13.

• Heather Hale, age and address unknown, pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of drugs, one fifth-degree felony and one first-degree misdemeanor. Ballard continued bond from lower court and set pretrial for Jan. 24.

• Justin Jenkins, 29, of 1718 S. Fourth St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), all felonies of the third-degree. Ballard set bond at $40,000 OR and $20,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for Jan. 31.

• Lanelle Linkfield, 27, of 304 High St., Coal Grove, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in heroin, all fifth-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $40,000 OR and $20,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for Jan. 31.

• Erin Mullins, 36, of 701 S. High St., Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $5,000 OR and $2,500 cash or surety.

• Randall Peters, age unknown, of 13421 15th St., Apt. 2, Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs (Oxycodone), a first-degree felony, and aggravated trafficking in cocaine, a third-degree felony. Ballard set sentencing for Feb. 14.

• Natasha Strunk, 31, of 28 Clay St., Wheelersburg, pleaded guilty to theft, a felony of the fifth-degree. Ballard sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR, 200 hours community service and pay court costs and $332.89 in restitution to the victim.

• Michael P. Trent, 40, of 455 29th St., Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to selling, purchasing, distributing or delivering dangerous drugs (Gabapentin), a fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 17 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR, 200 hours community service and pay court costs.

• David Woodyard, 43, of 213 Township Road 1163, Proctorville, pleaded guilty to forgery, a fifth-degree felony, and receiving stolen property, also a felony of the fifth-degree. Ballard sentenced him to eight months in jail with credit for 92 days served.

• Benjamin Vanover, 40, of 96 Private Drive 1211, Proctorville, pleaded 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 sentenced him to 83 months in prison and ordered him to pay court costs.

• Kimberly K. Cochran, 28, of 619 Cliff St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in heroin, all fourth-degree felonies. Judge Charles Cooper set sentencing for Jan. 31.

• Matthew R. Collins, 21, of 1124 N. Third St., Apt. C, Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced him to 20 months in prison.

• Kristen Corbin, 27, of 519 Pine St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs (Oxycodone, Morphine), one third-degree felony and one fourth-degree felony, complicity to trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, and trafficking in heroin, also a felony of the fourth-degree. Cooper set sentencing for Feb. 7.

• Jackson T. Crabtree, 25, of 291 Township Road 156 N., South Point, pleaded guilty to escape, a third-degree felony, and vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to 18 months in prison. Crabtree also has sentences from three other cases, which the new sentence got added to, giving him a total of 48 months in prison.

• Shane Egbert, 31, of 80 Township Road 184 W., Pedro, pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft, one fifth-degree felony and one first-degree misdemeanor, and domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first-degree. Cooper set bond at $2,000 OR and $2,000 cash or surety.

• Roger D. Minor, age and address unknown, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced him to 20 months in prison.

• Wesley T. Plumley, 25, of 780 Boggs Road, Glennwood, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (heroin), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to six months in jail.

• Jason Jones, 21, of 10811 Milwaukee Ave., Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to nine months in prison.