Woman faces 15 years behind bars

Two defendants were sentenced to five-year prison sentences Wednesday in the courtroom of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper.

• Matthew Boettger, 32, of 201 Third St. W., Apt. 2, South Point, pleaded guilty to burglary, a second-degree felony, and theft, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to five years in prison.

• Randy Newcomb, 37, of 1119 S. Third St., Ironton, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), all fourth-degree felonies. Cooper sentenced him to five years in prison with credit for 112 days served.

In another case, a Coal Grove woman previously pleaded guilty to five charges, and denied the state’s final offer on Wednesday.

• Christina Anderson, 39, of 2023 State Route 243, Coal Grove, previously pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, two counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), both fourth-degree felonies, and aggravated trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a felony of the second-degree. With her denial of the state’s final offer, which was seven years in prison with the possibility of judicial release after five years, she is facing a maximum of 15 years behind bars if found guilty at trial. Cooper set trial for July 26.

In other cases:

• Michael Parks, 41, of 70 Private Drive 302, South Point, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Cooper set bond at $1,000 cash or surety and $5,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Aug. 1.

• Christopher Ratliff, 28, of 1648 State Route 503, Wurtland, Kentucky, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of a controlled substance (heroin), a fifth-degree felony, and in another case, failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. He denied the state’s final offer of 18 months in prison with the possibility of judicial release after six months. He is facing a maximum of two and a half years in prison if found guilty at trial. Cooper set trial for July 30.

• Misty Robinson, 43, of 2212 N. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drug abuse instruments, a second-degree misdemeanor. She was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Cooper ordered her to complete treatment at Mahajan Therapeutics and 200 hours community service. She was also placed on four years community-controlled sanctions (CCS) under intensive supervised probation (ISP).

• Rickey Stapleton, 57, of 238 Hamilton St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR.

• Ethan Anderson, 21, of 3668 State Route 141, Ironton, pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony. Judge Andy Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR, 200 hours community service and pay court costs.

• Stephen Branch, 27, of 272 Township Road 615, South Point, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered him to complete treatment at Mended Reeds, 200 hours community service and drug court.

• Teresa Dillon, 47, of 1856 State Route 243, Ironton, pleaded guilty to trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and complicity to trafficking in heroin, also 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 and pay court costs.

• Richard Heaberlin II, 49, of 1936 Ora Richey Road, Ironton, admitted CCS violations. In another case, he is also facing possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set sentencing in the CCS case for Aug. 1, which will also serve as a pretrial in the second case.

• Shane Jenkins, 27, of 360 Township Road 111, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR and placed him on GPS home confinement. Pretrial was set for Aug. 8.

• Joshua Kelley, 32, of 122 Center St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR, 200 hours community service, and pay court costs and $2,889 in restitution.

• Brandon McComas, 21, address unknown, admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced him to one year in prison, which will run with time being served in West Virginia, and ordered him to pay court costs.

• Andrea Neace, 32, address unknown, admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced  her to six months in prison and ordered her to pay court costs.

• Ronald Pemberton Jr., 35, of 312 Township Road 137 W., Ironton, previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to attempt to commit burglary, a third-degree felony. He was found competent to stand trial, and Ballard set bond at $5,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR, and placed him on GPS home confinement until pretrial. Pretrial was set for July 18.

• Xavier Price, 28, of 223 Township Road 1186, South Point, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in heroin, all fifth-degree felonies. Ballard sentenced him to two years in prison with credit for time served, and ordered him to pay court costs.

• Brenna Shavor, 36, address unknown, admitted CCS violations. Ballard ordered her to complete STAR.

• Robert Stevens, 31, of 315 Ridgeway St., Coal Grove, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard continued bond and set pretrial for July 18.

• Carl Thompson, 41, of 465 29th St., Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to two years in prison, which will run with time being served in Kentucky.

• Nancy Walker, 37, of 1807 Ellen Drive, Flatwoods, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set pretrial for July 18.

• Justin Wells, 29, of 164 Township Road 1021, South Point, previously pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and aggravated trafficking in heroin, both second-degree felonies. He withdrew his plea, and Ballard set bond at $250,000 cash or surety and $500,000 OR.