Drugs make up majority of cases

Cases involving fentanyl seem to be on the uptick in Lawrence County, as more and more have recently shown up in common pleas court.

• Derik Blankenship, 28, of 50 County Road 5, Kitts Hill, pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine, fentanyl), one first-degree and one third-degree felony, and two counts possession of drugs (fentanyl, methamphetamine), one fifth-degree and one second-degree felony. Judge Andy Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 21.

• Teresa Dillon, 40, of 1856 State Route 243, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in drugs (fentanyl) and complicity to trafficking in drugs (fentanyl), both fourth-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 28.

• Xavier Price, 28, of 223 Township Road 1186, South Point, pleaded not guilty to four counts of trafficking in drugs (fentanyl), all felonies of the fourth-degree. Ballard set bond at $35,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 28.

In other cases:

• April Bryant, 35, of 235 Memorial St., Coal Grove, pleaded not guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs (methylphenidate hydrochloride, amphetamine dextroamphetamine), all third-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $35,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 21.

• Shawn Collins, 29, of 710 County Road 10A, Pedro, pleaded not guilty to burglary, a second-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 21.

• Dakota Fleming, 22, of 816 S. 10th St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $15,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 21.

• Stephen Green, age unknown, of 8050 County Road 1, South Point, denied community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Ballard set CCS trial for March 14.

• Stephen Horsely, age unknown, of 2275 Winchester Ave., Apt. 14, Ashland, Kentucky, admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced him to seven months in jail.

• Joseph Ison, 35, of 1492 County Road 4, Pedro, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to two years CCS with 17 months reserved, and ordered him to pay $700 in restitution.

• Michelle Norris, 31, of 46 Township Road 111, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of drugs (methamphetamine), both fifth-degree felonies, and possession of drug abuse instruments, a second-degree misdemeanor. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 28.

• Savannah L. Owens, 21, of 402 Second St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to grand theft, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $5,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 14.

• Ronald Pemberton Jr., 35, of 312 Township Road 137W, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to attempt to commit burglary, a third-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 21.

• Kimberly Terry, 35, of 2714 Cumberland Ave., Ashland, Kentucky, admitted CCS violations. Ballard ordered her to complete 400 hours community service and STAR with 11 months reserved.

• Dimitrie Thomas, 44, of 10394 Beechdale St., Detroit, Michigan, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs (Oxycodone), both fourth-degree felonies, and receiving proceeds of an offense subject to forfeiture proceedings, a felony of the fifth-degree. Ballard sentenced him to three years in prison with a mandatory three-year post-release control. He was also ordered to forfeit $1,414 to the Lawrence Drug and Major Crimes Task Force.

• William C. Webb, 32, of 101 S. Ninth St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $10,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 21.

• Vanessa Woods, 30, of 116 Ashland Drive, Apt. A, South Point, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine) and aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), both second-degree felonies. Ballard set sentencing for March 21.

• Talmadge M. Bacon, 37, of 416 Walnut St., Ironton, denied CCS violations. Judge Charles Cooper set CCS trial for March 28.

• Tonia Y. Clark, 38, of 2422 S. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony, trafficking in marijuana, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (amphlet salts), a felony of the fifth-degree. Cooper set sentencing for March 16.

• Ashley D. Gillispie, 32, of 323 33rd St., Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 11 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR.

• Gavyn C. Konz, 25, of 8130 County Road 1, Lot 9B, South Point, pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs (hashish), trafficking in marijuana and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, all fourth-degree felonies. Cooper sentenced him to 10 months in prison. He also had a firearm forfeited in the case.

• Phillip J. McMullen, 36, of 49 Township Road 1013, South Point, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced him to seven months in prison.

• Tommy Rockwell, 34, of 330 Walnut St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs (Oxycodone, methamphetamine), both fifth-degree felonies, and possession of cocaine, also a felony of the fifth-degree. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR.

• Jerry Stapleton, 38, of 809 N. Fourth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to one year in prison.