A married couple arrested together was among a number of people who pleaded guilty to drug charges Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Timothy Lyons, 28, of 721 Vine St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs.

Judge D. Scott Bowling sentenced Lyons to a total of four years in prison but said he may be released early if he is accepted at a community based correctional facility (CBCF).

He was also fined a total of $15,000 and ordered to surrender his driver’s license for a year.

“My client is a young man, 29 years old, and he has had no serious criminal record. He has one charge out of Kentucky. He is a 10-year resident of Lawrence County. He has two small children. He has the support of his wife and also the support of his mother,” attorney Warren Morford said on Lyons’ behalf.

“This was the result of a severe addiction to drugs. He wishes to put this matter behind him and become a productive member of society.”

Lyons apologized to the court and his family, when asked if he had anything to say. Bowling denied the request for a brief furlough before Lyons is sent to prison.

“I want to keep you on the right track,” Bowling said.

His wife, Nickie Lyons, 19, of the same address, pleaded guilty to one count of complicity to trafficking in drugs.

She was sentenced to four years community controlled sanctions under intensive supervised probation (CCS/ISP) and was fined $5,000. She was also ordered to surrender her driver’s license for six months.

Dean Montroso, 37, of 1453 County Road 1, South Point, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs. Judge Charles Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS/ISP and ordered him to undergo one year of in-house drug treatment.

“He has a serious drug problem,” Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., said of Montroso. “Our hope is that we can get Mr. MOntroso focused on a productive life.”

Montroso’s attorney, Mark McCown, concurred.

“Mr. Montroso does recognize he has an addiction. He is now clean. He has been incarcerated quite some time now. His thinking is clearer and he is doing much better now. He needs rehabilitation and he deserves that. He wishes to put this behind him.”

Montroso told Cooper he was “sorry for what I’ve done, sorry for my family.”

Cooper allowed him to be released on a $50,000 own recognizance bond pending admittance to the drug treatment program but stipulated he is to be on electronically monitored home confinement until then.

Also Wednesday, Jana D. Turley, 26, of 303 1/2 Depot St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs from one indictment and three counts of complicity to aggravated trafficking in drugs from a second one.

Bowling sentenced her to a total of four years in prison but agreed if she stays out of trouble while she is incarcerated she may be eligible for judicial release after three years. She was also fined more than $27,000.

Bowling denied a request for a brief furlough before she is sent to prison.

John E. Ferrell Jr., 38, of 904 County Road 103, Ironton, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated possession of drugs and two counts of possession of drugs.

Bowling sentenced him to four years CCS/ISP and ordered him to complete an in-house drug treatment program of between 9 and 12 months. As is the case with everyone who is placed on CCS, or probation, Ferrell faces prison time if he fails to live up to the terms of his probation, a point noted by Collier at Ferrell’s sentencing.

“He has a serious drug problem,” Collier said. “Our aim is to try and help him in this but he has to know there are sanctions hanging over his head.”