Co-defendant in drug bust pleads guilty
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Co-defendants indicted in April and arrested in a cross-county drug bust made court appearances Wednesday for pretrial hearings, with one defendant pleading guilty to drug charges.
A grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment on nine individuals in April, and a majority were arrested on April 6. There are a total of 153 indictments involving real estate, vehicles, cash and other assets connected to the alleged activity. The indictments were the result of several months of investigation by detectives with the HCSO, U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, GPD, and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office into concerns of cocaine and heroin trafficking in Highland County and the surrounding area.
Maudy Jackson, 45, of Greenfield, was initially indicted on a 24 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs. On Wednesday she pleaded guilty to eight counts of drug trafficking, and the remaining 16 counts were dismissed. Additionally, she agreed on a real estate forfeiture.
She appeared Wednesday in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office, and was represented by attorney Susan Wollscheid.
The state was represented by Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss asked Jackson if she was certain she wanted to plead guilty, saying that it was early in the process.
"Have you had time to consider this with your attorney?" Coss asked, and Jackson said that she had.
The court accepted Jackson's guilty plea on eight charges of trafficking in cocaine and heroin, and then proceeded immediately to sentencing.
Coss read each count and asked how she pleaded. Jackson responded "guilty" each time, while wiping away tears. On the eight count, Jackson broke down and began crying.
The state recommended six months in prison for each count, as well as the forfeiture of a house in Greenfield.
Wollscheid asked the court to consider that Jackson was giving up her home, and had been cooperative through the process.
Coss said that he felt Jackson had been cooperative, but that the court could not sentence her to community control because of the seriousness of the offenses.
She was sentenced to six months in prison for each count, to be served consecutively to each other for a total of four years in prison. Upon release from prison, Jackson will be subject to post-release control and will have her driver's license suspended for a year.
At the request of the defendant, Coss granted a 10-day furlough on the sentence so that Jackson could spend time with her mother, who is in poor health. Coss released her into the custody of her mother, and said that she is to be in her presence at all times. She is scheduled to report to the Highland County Justice Center May 13.
Several of Jackson's co-defendants made appearances in Highland County Common Pleas Court Wednesday, either in person, or via video from the Highland County Justice Center. The following had pretrial hearings Wednesday, during which a final pretrial was scheduled for June 8, with a jury trial scheduled for June 15:
• Rodger Cassell, on 57 counts, ranging from engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale;
• Jeffrey Stevens on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Jamie Robinette, on a five-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.
• Richard Rickman, on a 10-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
• Joseph Cowman, on a 13-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.
Other defendants include:
• Melinda Steward, on an eight-count indictment including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale.
• Megan Butcher, on a six-count indictment including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, and tampering with evidence.
• Zachary Bondurant, on a 13-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.
Co-defendants indicted in April and arrested in a cross-county drug bust made court appearances Wednesday for pretrial hearings, with one defendant pleading guilty to drug charges.
A grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment on nine individuals in April, and a majority were arrested on April 6. There are a total of 153 indictments involving real estate, vehicles, cash and other assets connected to the alleged activity. The indictments were the result of several months of investigation by detectives with the HCSO, U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, GPD, and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office into concerns of cocaine and heroin trafficking in Highland County and the surrounding area.
Maudy Jackson, 45, of Greenfield, was initially indicted on a 24 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs. On Wednesday she pleaded guilty to eight counts of drug trafficking, and the remaining 16 counts were dismissed. Additionally, she agreed on a real estate forfeiture.
She appeared Wednesday in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office, and was represented by attorney Susan Wollscheid.
The state was represented by Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss asked Jackson if she was certain she wanted to plead guilty, saying that it was early in the process.
"Have you had time to consider this with your attorney?" Coss asked, and Jackson said that she had.
The court accepted Jackson's guilty plea on eight charges of trafficking in cocaine and heroin, and then proceeded immediately to sentencing.
Coss read each count and asked how she pleaded. Jackson responded "guilty" each time, while wiping away tears. On the eight count, Jackson broke down and began crying.
The state recommended six months in prison for each count, as well as the forfeiture of a house in Greenfield.
Wollscheid asked the court to consider that Jackson was giving up her home, and had been cooperative through the process.
Coss said that he felt Jackson had been cooperative, but that the court could not sentence her to community control because of the seriousness of the offenses.
She was sentenced to six months in prison for each count, to be served consecutively to each other for a total of four years in prison. Upon release from prison, Jackson will be subject to post-release control and will have her driver's license suspended for a year.
At the request of the defendant, Coss granted a 10-day furlough on the sentence so that Jackson could spend time with her mother, who is in poor health. Coss released her into the custody of her mother, and said that she is to be in her presence at all times. She is scheduled to report to the Highland County Justice Center May 13.
Several of Jackson's co-defendants made appearances in Highland County Common Pleas Court Wednesday, either in person, or via video from the Highland County Justice Center. The following had pretrial hearings Wednesday, during which a final pretrial was scheduled for June 8, with a jury trial scheduled for June 15:
• Rodger Cassell, on 57 counts, ranging from engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale;
• Jeffrey Stevens on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Jamie Robinette, on a five-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.
• Richard Rickman, on a 10-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
• Joseph Cowman, on a 13-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.
Other defendants include:
• Melinda Steward, on an eight-count indictment including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale.
• Megan Butcher, on a six-count indictment including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, and tampering with evidence.
• Zachary Bondurant, on a 13-count indictment, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.