Hillsboro man pleads no contest to drug charges
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Hillsboro man pleaded no contest to an indictment on drug charges Friday in Highland County Common Pleas Court, after the court ruled against a defense motion to suppress regarding a search warrant.
Gerald Williams was indicted in November on one count of second-degree felony possession of drugs; one count of receiving stolen property, a felony of the fourth degree; possession of criminal tools, a felony of the fifth degree; and a forfeiture specification.
There have been three motion to suppress hearings in the case, all of which have been denied, according to court documents.
Williams was represented by attorney Patrick Mulligan, and had previously been represented by Lee Koogler.
Officer Shawn Kelley, of the Hillsboro Police Department, had previously testified that on Aug. 21, 2011 at approximately 8:50 p.m., he had been parked in his cruiser near Holmes Street and John Street, when he observed a maroon Buick driven by Williams. He said that the tinting on the windows was so dark that he could not see the driver - a violation - and so he initiated a traffic stop. During a search of the vehicle officers said they found a loaded handgun behind a seat in the car and two napkins that contained a substance later identified as heroin.
On Friday, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss denied the motion to suppress, and Williams ultimately entered a plea of no contest to the indictment.
According to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, Williams faces a maximum of 10 and a half years in prison and a $22,500 fine.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 17.
Also on Friday, Coss found Williams to be in violation of the conditions of his bond, and bond was revoked. Williams was remanded into custody, and is currently being held at the Highland County Justice Center.
Collins commended Kelley for the work he did on the case.
"Officer Shawn Kelley did an amazing job," Collins said. "He should be proud."
A Hillsboro man pleaded no contest to an indictment on drug charges Friday in Highland County Common Pleas Court, after the court ruled against a defense motion to suppress regarding a search warrant.
Gerald Williams was indicted in November on one count of second-degree felony possession of drugs; one count of receiving stolen property, a felony of the fourth degree; possession of criminal tools, a felony of the fifth degree; and a forfeiture specification.
A previous motion to suppress hearing had been held on Jan. 26.
Williams was represented by attorney Patrick Mulligan, and had previously been represented by Lee Koogler.
Officer Shawn Kelley, of the Hillsboro Police Department, had previously testified that on Aug. 21, 2011 at approximately 8:50 p.m., he had been parked in his cruiser near Holmes Street and John Street, when he observed a maroon Buick driven by Williams. He said that the tinting on the windows was so dark that he could not see the driver - a violation - and so he initiated a traffic stop. During a search of the vehicle officers said they found a loaded handgun behind a seat in the car and two napkins that contained a substance later identified as heroin.
On Friday, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss denied the motion to suppress, and Williams ultimately entered a plea of no contest to the indictment.
According to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, Williams faces a maximum of 10 and a half years in prison and a $22,500 fine.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 17.
Also on Friday, Coss found Williams to be in violation of the conditions of his bond, and bond was revoked. Williams was remanded into custody, and is currently being held at the Highland County Justice Center.
Collins commended Kelley for the work he did on the case.
"Officer Shawn Kelley did an amazing job," Collins said. "He should be proud."
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