Defendants arrested on drug charges during Highland County Task Force roundup

Local law enforcement officers working with the Highland County Task Force made arrests in various parts of the county this week after a Highland County grand jury handed down 25 indictments, 12 of which were secret.

According to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, officers arrested several individuals on drug charges Tuesday and Wednesday in what she called a “countywide cleanup” effort, with arrests made in the Hillsboro, Greenfield and Rocky Fork Lake areas.

Several of the secret indictments have now been unsealed following the suspects’ arrests, with the majority of these indictments involving methamphetamine trafficking and/or possession charges. Of the 13 public indictments released Tuesday, nine of them also involved drug charges.

Those indicted and arrested this week include:

• Nicholas Cordy, 41, of Hillsboro was charged with four second-degree felonies — two counts each of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and aggravated possession of methamphetamine — as well as a forfeiture specification.

All four felony charges are from alleged dates in August in which Cordy is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using,” and/or “knowingly selling or offering to sell,” meth “in an amount that equals or exceeds five times bulk amount but is less than 50 times bulk amount.”

A vehicle in Cordy’s possession is “subject to forfeiture due to its instrumentality in the commission or facilitation” of the alleged offense(s), the indictment says.

• Stacey Thacker, 48, of Hillsboro was indicted on nine charges, including six counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, one second-degree and five third-degree felonies; and three counts of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, one second-degree and two third-degree felonies.

The indictment accuses Thacker of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using,” and/or “knowingly selling or offering to sell,” meth in various amounts during separate alleged incidents in July, August and November.

• Dru McGary Jr., 37, of Hillsboro was charged with one count each of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, both second-degree felonies; one count of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony; and one count of theft by deception, a first-degree misdemeanor.

On one date in August, McGary is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using,” and/or “knowingly selling or offering to sell,” meth “in an amount that equals or exceeds five times bulk amount but is less than 50 times bulk amount.”  On a different date in August, it is alleged that McGary “did knowingly sell or offer to sell marijuana” and that he “did knowingly obtain or exert control over” another person’s money “by deception.”

• Michael Certain, 44, of Greenfield was indicted on 12 charges, including four counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, one second-degree felony, two third-degree felonies and one fourth-degree felony; three counts of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, two third-degree felonies and one fifth-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; and one count of theft by deception, a first-degree misdemeanor.

The charges in the indictment stem from alleged incidents in February and October 2024, where Certain is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using,” and/or “knowingly selling or offering to sell,” meth and/or fentanyl. The second-degree felony charge alleges that Certain “did knowingly sell or offer to sell” meth “in an amount equal to or exceeding five times bulk amount but less than 50 times bulk amount.”

For the misdemeanor, Certain is accused of “knowingly obtaining or exerting control over” another individual’s money “by deception.”

• Michael Carson, 44, of Hillsboro was charged with six third-degree felonies, including three counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and three counts of aggravated possession of methamphetamine.

Carson’s charges are from three separate dates in July 2024, where it is alleged he “knowingly obtained, possessed or used,” and “did knowingly sell or offer to sell,” meth “in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount.”

• Emma Shumaker, 47, of Hillsboro was charged with trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony. The indictment alleges that on or about Aug. 21, 2024, Shumaker “did knowingly sell or offer to sell suboxone.”

An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.

The Highland County Task Force has a Facebook page and takes anonymous and confidential tips regarding substance abuse and trafficking in Highland County. You can also provide information directly to a member of the Task Force by calling the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office at (937) 393-1851. To learn more about the Task Force’s history, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/highland-county-task-force-begins-….

Read more about Tuesday’s grand jury session at: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/hillsboro-man-indicted-attempted-m….

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.