Greenfield woman pleads guilty to drug charge
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Greenfield woman who was indicted in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case pleaded guilty Wednesday to a bill of information on a drug charge, and community control violations in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Stephanie Ford was indicted in August with 10 other defendants in the case, along with real estate and bank accounts, on 173 counts by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court. The indictment was a result of a continuing investigation into alleged patterns of corrupt activity involving a drug pipeline law enforcement says is responsible for bringing heroin into Highland County via Greenfield. Ford's co-defendants Tesse Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr, Greg Smith and Quentin Binegar have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment, and agreed to testify against the remaining co-defendants. Defendant Bradley Rickman has pleaded guilty but has not agreed to testify, according to his attorney. The overall charges included first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, and trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile. Defendants Thomas Peters and Donna Gillam are scheduled to stand trial beginning Dec. 19.
On Wednesday, before Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, Ford waived her right of prosecution by indictment and entered a guilty plea on a bill of information of permitting drug abuse, a felony of the fifth degree.
Coss said the new charge states that on or about Dec. 30, 2010, while she was the "owner, lessee, or occupant" of a residence on North Street in Greenfield she permitted the premises to be used for a felony drug trafficking offense. Coss said that Peters is alleged to have trafficked in drugs from the residence.
"You're admitting you permitted Mr. Peters to sell drugs on that day and place in your home?" Coss asked Ford, and she said "Yes."
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the court that upon reviewing the evidence, Ford should not have been included in the first-degree felony charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, because the evidence showed her alleged involvement in one drug transaction. Collins said that in order to be charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, there must be two or more transactions.
Collins told the Highland County Press that she stood behind the other charges in the indictment, but that she felt the charge of permitting drug abuse was appropriate for Ford.
Coss asked if Ford had offered information to the state regarding the case, and if her plea was contingent on her agreeing to testify. Collins said that Ford had not cooperated with the state and had not agreed to testify.
Charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a school, and possession of drugs were dismissed.
In addition to the drug charges, a hearing was held on Ford's alleged violation of her community control, which included allegations of driving while under suspension, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities; obtaining, possessing or using heroin; selling heroin in the vicinity of a school; failure to report as ordered by her supervising officer; possessing alcohol; failure to make payment of court costs.
When Coss asked Ford if she was aware of the alleged violations said that she was aware, but, "I don't agree with them."
Because Ford had entered into a plea on permitting drug abuse, the drug-related community control violations were dismissed, as were the allegations on failure to report.
Ford had been sentenced to community control in 2008 after she pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony charge of attempted trafficking in drugs.
Coss found Ford to be in violation, and revoked her community control.
The state recommended 11 months in prison on the permitting drug abuse charge and 15 months in prison on the community control violations, to be served consecutively.
Coss proceeded immediately to sentencing.
Collins said that all Ford's criminal convictions are drug-related, and that all of them involved Thomas Peters.
"Not only is she not helping herself by staying away from drugs, she is not staying away from the people she continually gets involved in drugs with," Collins said.
Ford's attorney, Charles Ring, said that he, "can't in good faith" tell the court that Ford had been, "a model probationer. She is an addict. She is almost 50 years old. She have no income, and she had been waiting on a social security/disabsility hearing. She has not had any treatment for her addiction. I don't know that she has ever asked for help."
Ring also said that the drug charges were "on the lower scale of felonies."
Ford also addressed the court, saying, "I am an addict."
She said that while she was on community control she had tested positive for drugs four times and that, "nothing was done to me."
Collins said that Ford had been evaluated by the Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center, and had received treatment at FRS Counseling.
Coss told Ford, "You attitude is one of, 'No one offered me treatment.' If this was only a case of drug abuse I would look at the issue of treatment. But your original charge was trafficking, which was reduced to attempted trafficking. (Regarding the August indictment) you knew who you were involved with and what you were getting yourself into."
Coss followed the state's recommendation and sentenced Ford to a total of 26 months in prison on both charges, along with a three-year suspension of driving privileges. She is to begin serving it immediately with 117 days of jail time credit.
Ford had asked Coss a question regarding early release, and he said that the only way early release is granted is by a judicial release authorized by him, or by order of the governor.
"The court gives great weight to defendants who choose to cooperate with the state," Coss said. "On community control you have already shown you didn't do well. You won't have a lot going for you as far as early release."
As she left the courtroom in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office, Ford told The Highland County Press to note that she would not be testifying for the state.
A Greenfield woman who was indicted in engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case pleaded guilty Wednesday to a bill of information on a drug charge, and community control violations in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Stephanie Ford was indicted in August with 10 other defendants in the case by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court. The indictment was a result of a continuing investigation into alleged patterns of corrupt activity involving a drug pipeline law enforcement says is responsible for bringing heroin into Highland County via Greenfield.
Ford's co-defendants Tesse Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr, Greg Smith and Quentin Binegar have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment, and agreed to testify against the remaining co-defendants. Defendant Bradley Rickman has pleaded guilty, but has not agreed to testify, according to his attorney.
The overall charges included first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, and trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile. Defendants Thomas Peters and Donna Gillam are scheduled to stand trial beginning Dec. 19.
Ford's co-defendants Tesse Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr, Greg Smith and Quentin Binegar have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment, and agreed to testify against the remaining co-defendants. Defendant Bradley Rickman has pleaded guilty, but has not agreed to testify, according to his attorney.
The overall charges included first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, and trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile. Defendants Thomas Peters and Donna Gillam are scheduled to stand trial beginning Dec. 19.
On Wednesday, before Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, Ford waived her right of prosecution by indictment and entered a guilty plea on a bill of information of permitting drug abuse, a felony of the fifth degree.
Coss said the new charge states that on or about Dec. 30, 2010, while she was the "owner, lessee, or occupant" of a residence on North Street in Greenfield she permitted the premises to be used for a felony drug trafficking offense. Coss said that Peters is alleged to have trafficked in drugs from the residence.
"You're admitting you permitted Mr. Peters to sell drugs on that day and place in your home?" Coss asked Ford, and she said "Yes."
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the court that upon reviewing the evidence, Ford should not have been included in the first-degree felony charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, because the evidence showed her alleged involvement in one drug transaction. Collins said that in order to be charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, there must be two or more transactions.
Collins told The Highland County Press that she stood behind the other charges in the indictment, but that she felt the charge of permitting drug abuse was appropriate for Ford.
Coss asked if Ford had offered information to the state regarding the case, and if her plea was contingent on her agreeing to testify. Collins said that Ford had not cooperated with the state and had not agreed to testify.
Charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a school, and possession of drugs were dismissed.
In addition to the drug charges, a hearing was held on Ford's alleged violation of her community control, which included allegations of driving while under suspension, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities; obtaining, possessing or using heroin; selling heroin in the vicinity of a school; failure to report as ordered by her supervising officer; possessing alcohol; failure to make payment of court costs.
When Coss asked Ford if she was aware of the alleged violations said that she was aware, but, "I don't agree with them."
Because Ford had entered into a plea on permitting drug abuse, the drug-related community control violations were dismissed, as were the allegations on failure to report.
Ford had been sentenced to community control in 2008 after she pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony charge of attempted trafficking in drugs.
Coss found Ford to be in violation, and revoked her community control.
The state recommended 11 months in prison on the permitting drug abuse charge and 15 months in prison on the community control violations, to be served consecutively.
Coss proceeded immediately to sentencing.
Collins said that all Ford's criminal convictions are drug-related, and that all of them involved Thomas Peters.
"Not only is she not helping herself by staying away from drugs, she is not staying away from the people she continually gets involved in drugs with," Collins said.
Ford's attorney, Charles Ring, said that he, "can't in good faith" tell the court that Ford had been, "a model probationer. She is an addict. She is almost 50 years old. She has no income, and she had been waiting on a Social Security disability hearing. She has not had any treatment for her addiction. I don't know that she has ever asked for help."
Ring also said that the drug charges were "on the lower scale of felonies."
Ford also addressed the court, saying, "I am an addict."
She said that while she was on community control she had tested positive for drugs four times and that, "nothing was done to me."
Collins said that Ford had been evaluated by the Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center, and had received treatment at FRS Counseling.
Coss told Ford, "Your attitude is one of, 'No one offered me treatment.' If this was only a case of drug abuse, I would look at the issue of treatment. But your original charge was trafficking, which was reduced to attempted trafficking. (Regarding the August indictment) you knew who you were involved with and what you were getting yourself into."
Coss followed the state's recommendation and sentenced Ford to a total of 26 months in prison on both charges, along with a three-year suspension of driving privileges. She is to begin serving it immediately with 117 days of jail time credit.
Ford had asked Coss a question regarding early release, and he said that the only way early release is granted is by a judicial release authorized by him, or by order of the governor.
"The court gives great weight to defendants who choose to cooperate with the state," Coss said. "On community control, you have already shown you didn't do well. You won't have a lot going for you as far as early release."
As she left the courtroom in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office, Ford told The Highland County Press to note that she would not be testifying for the state.
[[In-content Ad]]