Drugs, CCS violations fill common pleas docket

A South Point man pleaded not guilty to possession of Lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD, in the courtroom of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard on Wednesday. Cases involving drugs and community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations made up the majority of the common pleas docket this week.

• Anthony Nicely, 22, of 63 Township Road 1153, South Point, pleaded not guilty to possession of a controlled substance (LSD). Ballard continued bond at $3,000 cash or surety from lower court and set a $15,000 OR bond. Pretrial was set for Feb. 20.

• Ethan Anderson, 21, of 2033 State Route 243, Ironton, previously pleaded not guilty to complicity to trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony, and trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony. He rejected the state’s final offer of three years in prison or four years in prison with the possibility of judicial release after two years, and is facing a maximum of 54 months in prison if found guilty at trial. Judge Christen Finley set trial for Feb. 14, but that date could change.

• Martin Benicker, 60, of 2547 S. Ninth St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Finley set bond at $5,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Feb. 27.

• Rick Carter, 24, of 2533 S. Sixth St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony. Finley set bond at $15,000 cash or surety and $10,000 OR. He also has a CCS violation case pending. Finley set pretrial in both cases for Feb. 20.

• Kathy Wallace, 38, of 107 Green Acres Drive, Raceland, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth-degree. Finley set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 6.

• Gary Hicks, 43, of 1111 S. Third St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, in one case, and failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, in another case. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 28 months reserved, and ordered him to complete 200 hours community service, treatment at Mended Reeds and pay court costs.

• Albert Jenkins, 27, of 724 Lawrence St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He also has a CCS violation case pending. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Feb. 6.

• Chad Lewis, 43, of 154 Township Road 1336, Apt. 18, South Point, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (heroin), a fifth-degree felony. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction and Ballard ordered him to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and 200 hours community service.

• Denise Murphy, 48, of 713 S. Seventh St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in heroin, two fifth-degree felonies and one fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with 36 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Seth Thompson, 28, of 1905 Dixon St., Ashland, Kentucky, previously pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set a final pretrial for Feb. 20, where he will be given a final offer. If he rejects that final offer, trial is set for March 4-5.

In other cases:

• Erica Dean, 35, of Route 1, Box 275A, Lesage, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. Finley sentenced her to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 36 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR.

• Scott Fisher, 48, of 317 Kemp Ave. Rear, Ironton, pleaded not guilty to five counts of forgery, all fifth-degree felonies, tampering with records, a third-degree felony, and resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor. Finley set bond at $2,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Feb. 20.

• Norman Fulks, 43, of 115 Township Road 1111, Proctorville, denied CCS violations. Finley set CCS trial for Feb. 27.

• Michelle Patrick, 44, of 1873 County Road 1, South Point, pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Finley set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and $10,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Feb. 20.
Julius Sudderth, 62, of 1311 Second St., Portsmouth, admitted CCS violations. Finley sentenced him to two years in prison.

• Walter Bocook, age and address unknown, denied CCS violations. Judge Andy Ballard set CCS trial for Feb. 6.

• Zachary Corn, 26, of 1308 S. First St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to felonious assault, a second-degree felony, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, also a second-degree felony, tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third-degree. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Feb. 13.

• Jean Dodson, 37, address unknown, previously denied CCS violations. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR and placed her on GPS monitoring. CCS trial was set for Feb. 20.

• Van Lee Harrell, age and address unknown, admitted CCS violations. Ballard sentenced him to one year in prison.

• Doris Sharp, 26, of 322 Ridgeway St., Coal Grove, pleaded not guilty to burglary, a fourth-degree felony. She also has a CCS violation case pending. Ballard set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Feb. 6.