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Columbus man sentenced for trafficking meth in Greenfield

By
Caitlin Forsha, The Highland County Press

A Columbus man indicted on a dozen counts in connection with a Highland County Task Force investigation was sentenced recently to an additional two years in prison, after being convicted on multiple charges in Ross County earlier this year.

As previously reported, a Highland County grand jury handed down 30 indictments during their Tuesday, Feb. 6 session, while members of the Highland County Task Force executed search warrants and made several arrests Feb. 5. Jimmy Clark, 44, of Columbus was among those indicted, although his indictment remained secret until later in the month.

Clark was charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, a second- and third-degree felony; two counts of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a second- and third-degree felony; two counts of trafficking in a fentanyl related compound, both fourth-degree felonies; two counts of possession of a fentanyl related compound, both fourth-degree felonies; two counts of trafficking in cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies; and two counts of possession of cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies.

According to court records, Clark pleaded guilty May 8 to the second-degree felony count of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, with the remaining 11 charges dismissed.

For that charge, it is alleged that on or about April 7, 2023, a confidential informant met with Clark at a residence in Greenfield to purchase drugs. Among the alleged transactions on that day was a bag containing 28.64 grams of meth.

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Clark to a mandatory two years in prison. Under the Reagan Tokes Law, Clark could serve up to three years in this case. He had no jail time credit.

Coss also ordered Clark to pay $870 in restitution to the Highland County Task Force, according to court records.
 
The sentence from Highland County is to run consecutive to a previously imposed sentence from Ross County Common Pleas Court. According to court records, one month before being indicted in Highland County, Clark was convicted of second-degree felony charges of aggravated possession of drugs (two) and possession of fentanyl; a third-degree felony count of aggravated possession of drugs; a fourth-degree felony charge of possession of fentanyl; and fifth-degree felony charges of possession of cocaine (three) and aggravated possession of drugs (two).

Clark was sentenced in January in Ross County Common Pleas Court to a minimum of seven years in prison, with a maximum of nine years, according to court records.

Clark has been incarcerated in the Lake Erie Correctional Institution since Jan. 4, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.


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