Jenkins guilty on all counts; sentenced to 14 years in prison
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Greenfield man accused of using his 2-year-old child to block law enforcement from finding a one-pot meth lab he had in his pocket has been found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
It took the jury approximately 25 minutes to reach the verdicts Thursday afternoon in Highland County Common Pleas Court to convict Christopher Jenkins of one count of first-degree felony illegal manufacture of drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile; first-degree felony illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs; fourth-degree felony assault on a peace officer; and third-degree felony endangering children.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said, "If this doesn't meet the Legislature's definition of the worst form of the offense, then I don't know what does. I can't imagine anything worse than walking around with a meth lab in your pocket with a 2-year-old child in your arms."
The state was represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Molly Bolek, and they were assisted by Officer Jason Havens of the Greenfield Police Department.
Defense attorney Kathryn Hapner argued that while there was evidence of a meth lab, there was no direct evidence that tied her client to the items used in the manufacture of drugs.
The state alleged that during a Jan. 25 traffic stop on the vehicle in which Jenkins was a passenger, Officer Havens' K-9 indicated there were drugs in the vehicle. When Jenkins was searched, Havens testified, he kept holding his child closer to him as the officer attempted to search inside his jacket. The two men struggled, and Jenkins struck Havens in the face with a set of handcuffs. During the struggle, a Gatorade bottle fell from Jenkins' coat.
Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation testified Thursday that the Gatorade bottle was a "one-pot meth lab." A search of the defendant's apartment later turned up additional items alleged to be used in the manufacture of drugs.
Barbara Sims, a witness to the event, testified Thursday that when she saw the struggle begin, she ran to the child and tried to shield him watching Jenkins fight and run from the officers.
"I put (the child's) head on my shoulder to try to get him not to look," Sims testified. "He was crying ... He kept saying, 'they're hurting my daddy.'"[[In-content Ad]]
Following the reading of the jury's verdict by Highland County Clerk of Courts Ike Hodson, Coss proceeded to sentencing. Coss said that a pre-sentence investigation had been conducted on Jenkins in November, just prior to the court granting him treatment in lieu of conviction.
During sentencing, Coss referenced the BCI agents' testimony regarding the volatility of meth labs, and the danger they bring to those who manufacture, and the innocent people exposed to the labs.
Coss said that Jenkins' actions were "despicable."
"What really gets me is the total disregard for your child," Coss said. "This really is the worst form of the offense. You not only endangered your child's life, you resisted arrest. It's obvious why (Jenkins resisted arrest). But your poor child had to witness it. Had you submitted, you would have spared him that. He probably has nightmares. He didn't know you were putting his life in danger. He was worried about you."
Coss sentenced Jenkins to the maximum for a first-time offender on a single count under House Bill 86 - 11 years in prison on count one. The state said that under Ohio law, for the purposes of sentencing, counts one and two merge.
Jenkins was sentenced to one year on the assault charge and two years on the endangering children charge.
The counts are to be served consecutively for a total of 14 years in prison.
His license was also suspended for a period of five years. He was given 106 days of jail time credit.
It was also noted that Jenkins was indicted in March, in an unrelated case, where he is charged with fifth-degree felony vandalism.
Collins told The Highland County Press, "We are very happy with the verdicts returned by the jury."
It took the jury approximately 25 minutes to reach the verdicts Thursday afternoon in Highland County Common Pleas Court to convict Christopher Jenkins of one count of first-degree felony illegal manufacture of drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile; first-degree felony illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs; fourth-degree felony assault on a peace officer; and third-degree felony endangering children.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said, "If this doesn't meet the Legislature's definition of the worst form of the offense, then I don't know what does. I can't imagine anything worse than walking around with a meth lab in your pocket with a 2-year-old child in your arms."
The state was represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Molly Bolek, and they were assisted by Officer Jason Havens of the Greenfield Police Department.
Defense attorney Kathryn Hapner argued that while there was evidence of a meth lab, there was no direct evidence that tied her client to the items used in the manufacture of drugs.
The state alleged that during a Jan. 25 traffic stop on the vehicle in which Jenkins was a passenger, Officer Havens' K-9 indicated there were drugs in the vehicle. When Jenkins was searched, Havens testified, he kept holding his child closer to him as the officer attempted to search inside his jacket. The two men struggled, and Jenkins struck Havens in the face with a set of handcuffs. During the struggle, a Gatorade bottle fell from Jenkins' coat.
Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation testified Thursday that the Gatorade bottle was a "one-pot meth lab." A search of the defendant's apartment later turned up additional items alleged to be used in the manufacture of drugs.
Barbara Sims, a witness to the event, testified Thursday that when she saw the struggle begin, she ran to the child and tried to shield him watching Jenkins fight and run from the officers.
"I put (the child's) head on my shoulder to try to get him not to look," Sims testified. "He was crying ... He kept saying, 'they're hurting my daddy.'"[[In-content Ad]]
Following the reading of the jury's verdict by Highland County Clerk of Courts Ike Hodson, Coss proceeded to sentencing. Coss said that a pre-sentence investigation had been conducted on Jenkins in November, just prior to the court granting him treatment in lieu of conviction.
During sentencing, Coss referenced the BCI agents' testimony regarding the volatility of meth labs, and the danger they bring to those who manufacture, and the innocent people exposed to the labs.
Coss said that Jenkins' actions were "despicable."
"What really gets me is the total disregard for your child," Coss said. "This really is the worst form of the offense. You not only endangered your child's life, you resisted arrest. It's obvious why (Jenkins resisted arrest). But your poor child had to witness it. Had you submitted, you would have spared him that. He probably has nightmares. He didn't know you were putting his life in danger. He was worried about you."
Coss sentenced Jenkins to the maximum for a first-time offender on a single count under House Bill 86 - 11 years in prison on count one. The state said that under Ohio law, for the purposes of sentencing, counts one and two merge.
Jenkins was sentenced to one year on the assault charge and two years on the endangering children charge.
The counts are to be served consecutively for a total of 14 years in prison.
His license was also suspended for a period of five years. He was given 106 days of jail time credit.
It was also noted that Jenkins was indicted in March, in an unrelated case, where he is charged with fifth-degree felony vandalism.
Collins told The Highland County Press, "We are very happy with the verdicts returned by the jury."