Defendants sentenced on drug charges

Two defendants rejected the state’s final offers in their respective cases Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

• Robert Stevens, 32, 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 one year in prison, and is facing a maximum of four years behind bars if found guilty at trial. Judge Andy Ballard set trial for Sept. 10.

• Justin Wells, 30, of 164 Township Road 1021, South Point, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (fentanyl), a fifth-degree felony, trafficking in drugs (fentanyl), a fourth-degree felony, tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and two counts of vandalism, both fifth-degree felonies. He rejected the state’s final offer of three years in prison, and is facing a maximum of seven and a half years behind bars if found guilty at trial. Ballard set trial for Sept. 6-7.

In other cases:

• Andrea Christian, 26, of 1597 Martha Court, #21A, Lexington, Kentucky, failed her intervention in lieu of conviction sentence stemming from a fifth-degree possession of drugs (methamphetamine) charge. Ballard resentenced her to four years community-controlled sanctions (CCS) under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 11 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR, 200 hours community service and pay court costs.

• Scott Christian, 39, address unknown, denied CCS violations. Ballard set CCS trial for Sept. 5.

• Frank Hill, 45, of 242 Jefferson Ave., South Point, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, and admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced him to three years in prison.

• Jordan Marcum, 25, of 207 Locust St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered him to abstain from using drugs and/or alcohol for one year with regular treatment and testing, and to complete STAR.

• Ronald Pemberton, 35, of 312 Township Road 137W, Ironton, pleaded guilty to attempt to commit burglary, third-degree felony. Ballard set sentencing for Sept. 19. Part of the agreed sentence is for him to pay $5,000 in restitution before the sentencing date, resulting in nine months in prison before completing STAR. If he fails to pay restitution, he will be sentenced to three years in prison. He will remain on GPS monitoring until sentencing.

• Amy Pennington, 34, of 2421 S. Fifth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. She was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered her to abstain from using drugs and/or alcohol for one year, complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Richard Robinson, 49, of 104 Washington Court, South Point, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and orderd him to complete 200 hours community service and pay court costs.

• Mason Thacker, 31, of 4429 State Route 93, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR and placed him on GPS monitoring until the next pretrial.

• Deborah Douglas, 40, of 188 Township Road 1211, South Point, denied CCS violations. Judge Charles Cooper set CCS trial for Sept. 12.

• Ronald Harmon Jr., 34, of 1173 County Road 1, Lot 8, South Point, pleaded not guilty to domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. Cooper set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and set pretrial for Sept. 19.

• Larry Holland, 65, of 304 Elizabeth St., Proctorville, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony, and trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four and a half years in prison.

• Adam Laber, 39, of 5409 State Route 93, Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Christy Potter, 47, of 2407 S. Seventh St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and failure to appear, also a felony of the fourth-degree. Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with 22 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Lowell Ratliff Jr., 36, of 722 Vernon St., Ironton, was found to have violated his CCS. Cooper sentenced him to 140 days in jail.