Trafficking, possession among charges in cases

Three defendants were sentenced to prison on drug charges Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard’s courtroom.

• Bobby D. Jenkins, 40, of 1350 Township Road 179, Ironton, pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), two third-degree felonies and two fourth-degree felonies. Ballard sentenced him to three years in prison and ordered him to pay court costs. If he maintains a good record in prison, he will be eligible for release to STAR after one year.

• Frederick D. Martin, 35, of 8250 County Road 1, South Point, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin, one third-degree and one fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to two years in prison with credit for time served since May 4.

• Kevin A. Newcomb, 20, of 689 County Road 52, Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. In another case, he also admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced him to three years in prison. If he maintains a good record in prison, he will be eligible for release to STAR after one year.

In other cases:

• Betty Sue Albert, 41, of 615 S. 10th St., previously pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony, and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. She received intervention in lieu of conviction (ILC), but failed a drug screen on Wednesday. Ballard extended ILC one year and ordered her to receive inpatient treatment at Mended Reeds.

• Stephen Branch, 27, of 272 Township Road 675, South Point, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set pretrial for July 11, where a final offer will be given.

• Joey S. Carico, 43, of 1311 Renaissance Circle, Charleston, West Virginia, pleaded not guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for June 27. Carico is currently in prison in West Virginia on another case.

• Floyd A. Franklin, 57, listed at the Lawrence County Jail, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set pretrial for July 11.

• Deborah Ostby, 29, address unknown, was found guilty of community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations at CCS trial Wednesday. Ballard sentenced her to GPS monitoring, and ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds until she is able to go to STAR.

• Kelli (Kelly) A. Poindexter, 43, of 951 Jefferson Ave., Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to grand theft, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced her to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 17 months reserved, and ordered her to complete 400 hours community service and pay court costs.

• Xavier M. Price, 28, of 223 Township Road 1186, South Point, previously pleaded not guilty to four counts of trafficking in heroin, all fifth-degree felonies. Ballard set pretrial for June 27, where a final offer will be given. If he rejects the state’s final offer, trial is set for July 9-10.

• Robert W. Stevens, 31, of 315 Ridgeway St. Coal Grove, previously pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He rejected the state’s final offer of five years CCS under ISP and STAR. Ballard set trial for July 6.

• Carl E. Thompson, 41, of 465 29th St., Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor. Ballard set bond at $15,000 cash or surety, $5,000 OR and $25,000 property. Pretrial was set for July 11.

• Terry I. Unrue, 41, of 714 S. 10th St., Apt. A, Ironton, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin, both fifth-degree felonies. Ballard set sentencing for June 27, and set a $50,000 OR bond and placed him on GPS monitoring until sentencing.

• Brenna K. Hall, 49, of 4550 State Route 243, Ironton, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. She failed a drug screen and Judge Charles Cooper increased her bond from $2,500 to $5,000 cash or surety.

• Danielle Hamm, 39, of 91 Township Road 1090, Proctorville, previously pleaded not guilty to theft of drugs (Tizanidine), a fourth-degree felony, and criminal trespassing, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. In another case, she pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. Cooper set bond at $10,000 cash or surety and $10,000 OR.

• Jonathan M. Howerton, 40, of 930 County Road 1, South Point, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 48 months reserved.

• Charles W. Jackson, 43, of 720 S. 10th St., Apt. A, Ironton, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), all fourth-degree felonies. He withdrew his guilty plea on Wednesday, and Cooper set trial for Aug. 13. There will be a pretrial on July 25, where a final offer will be given.

• Zachary C. Jenkins, 27, of 826 S. 10th St., Apt. D, Ironton, previously pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete treatment at Mended Reeds.

• Billy J. McGhee, 27, of 1367 State Route 93, Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced him to seven months in jail.

• Magan R. Richmond, 30, of 27 Private Drive 187, Apt. 8, South Point, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced her to four months in jail with credit for time served.

• Jason J. Vanderhoof, 43, of 121 Center St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with six months reserved. A gun was also forfeited in the case, and he was ordered to pay a $250 fine.