Multiple trial dates set in drug trafficking case
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Eight defendants remain in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case regarding an alleged drug trafficking ring, with two separate trial dates now set, after three defendants have pleaded guilty.
This week in Highland County Common Pleas Court, Bradley Rickman, of Greenfield, entered a plea of guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both felonies of the fourth degree. As a result of the plea, charges of possession of drugs and first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity were dismissed. The state has recommend that he be sentenced to 15 months on each count to be served consecutively for a total of three years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 13.
Two other defendants have also pleaded guilty. On Sept. 14 April Elliot, of Greenfield, entered a guilty plea on one count of trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile, a felony of the fourth degree. As a result of the plea agreement, the remaining charges of possession of drugs, and first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, were dismissed. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 20. On Tuesday, Roderick Croy Jr., of Greenfield, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking heroin in the vicinity of a juvenile, a felony of the third degree. He had been indicted on eight other counts, including possession, and a first-degree felony charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. As part of the plea the remaining charges were dismissed, and he was sentenced to four years in prison.
In August 11 individuals, along with real estate and bank accounts, were indicted on 173 counts by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court in a continuing investigation into patterns of corrupt activity involving a drug pipeline law enforcement says is responsible for bringing heroin into Highland County via Greenfield.
On Sept. 28, the Highland County Prosecutor's Office filed an a motion to amend the indictments to. The original indictment listed heroin as a schedule II substance, and the motion amended it to a schedule I substance.
Co-defendants Thomas Peters, Jennifer Forsha, Frank Parr, Tesse Everhart, Quentin Binegar, Greg Smith appeared individually Wednesday for pretrial hearings in Highland County Common Pleas Court before Judge Rocky Coss with their respective attorneys. Defendants Donna Gillam and Stephanie Ford are scheduled to appear next week for final pretrials.
Previously, all the defendants had been scheduled to stand trial Oct. 11.
Peters, who is charged in 74 counts, appeared Wednesday with his attorney Daniel O'Brien. O'Brien told the court that they had filed discovery motions and that, "it looks like the government (prosecution) is trying very assiduously to comply with them. We get discovery almost every day. In fact, we've gotten some discovery yesterday, so we thank the government for its cooperation in this matter. The only thing I would like to bring to the attention of the court is that having just received discovery as late as 24 hours ago, and I think when the court set the original trial date in this 70-plus count indictment must have known that we would not be able to meet the Oct. 11 date. So I would like the court to know in view of the fact that the discovery seems to be ongoing and continuing, and literally within the last 24 hours, we would be requesting a continuance of the original trial date."
Several other defense attorneys have remarked to the court on the amount of evidence in the case, including video footage and paper documentation.
O'Brien asked that a deadline be set for discovery being provided by the state so they know when "we have all the information that we're entitled to."
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the court that as the investigation progresses, and defendants enter into plea agreements, new informations is continually coming to light.
"As that comes in I will continue to disclose that, but that could be right up to the day before trial, and that is my duty, as continuing discovery requires," Collins said.
Collins said that recent discovery referred to by O'Brien were test results on evidence.
Coss set a trial date of Nov. 28 for Peters, as O'Brien stated that he would be out of the country during the middle of November.
Trial dates have been scheduled for Nov. 7 for Binegar, Forsha and Smith. Another pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. for Parr.
"We will have no choice but to try it separately because Mr. O'Brien couldn't work his calendar to the court's calendar, which is unfortunate because it will be more expensive," Collins told The Highland County Press.
Eight defendants remain in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case regarding an alleged drug trafficking ring, with separate trial dates now set. Three of the 11 defendants indicted in the case have pleaded guilty.
This week in Highland County Common Pleas Court, Bradley Rickman, of Greenfield, entered a plea of guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both felonies of the fourth degree. As a result of the plea, charges of possession of drugs and first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity were dismissed. The state has recommend that he be sentenced to 15 months on each count to be served consecutively for a total of three years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 13.
Two other defendants have also pleaded guilty. On Sept. 14 April Elliot, of Greenfield, entered a guilty plea on one count of trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile, a felony of the fourth degree. As a result of the plea agreement, the remaining charges of possession of drugs, and first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, were dismissed. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 20. On Tuesday, Roderick Croy Jr., of Greenfield, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking heroin in the vicinity of a juvenile, a felony of the third degree. He had been indicted on eight other counts, including possession, and a first-degree felony charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. As part of the plea the remaining charges were dismissed, and he was sentenced to four years in prison.
In August 11 individuals, along with real estate and bank accounts, were indicted on 173 counts by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court in a continuing investigation into patterns of corrupt activity involving a drug pipeline law enforcement says is responsible for bringing heroin into Highland County via Greenfield.
On Sept. 28, the Highland County Prosecutor's Office filed an a motion to amend the indictments to. The original indictment listed heroin as a schedule II substance, and the motion amended it to a schedule I substance.
Co-defendants Thomas Peters, Jennifer Forsha, Frank Parr, Tesse Everhart, Quentin Binegar, Greg Smith appeared individually Wednesday for pretrial hearings in Highland County Common Pleas Court before Judge Rocky Coss with their respective attorneys. Defendants Donna Gillam and Stephanie Ford are scheduled to appear next week for final pretrials.
Previously, all the defendants had been scheduled to stand trial Oct. 11.
Peters, who is charged in 74 counts, appeared Wednesday with his attorney Daniel O'Brien. O'Brien told the court that they had filed discovery motions and that, "it looks like the government (prosecution) is trying very assiduously to comply with them. We get discovery almost every day. In fact, we've gotten some discovery yesterday, so we thank the government for its cooperation in this matter. The only thing I would like to bring to the attention of the court is that having just received discovery as late as 24 hours ago, and I think when the court set the original trial date in this 70-plus count indictment must have known that we would not be able to meet the Oct. 11 date. So I would like the court to know in view of the fact that the discovery seems to be ongoing and continuing, and literally within the last 24 hours, we would be requesting a continuance of the original trial date."
Several other defense attorneys have remarked to the court on the amount of evidence in the case, including video footage and paper documentation.
O'Brien asked that a deadline be set for discovery being provided by the state so they know when "we have all the information that we're entitled to."
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the court that as the investigation progresses, and defendants enter into plea agreements, new informations is continually coming to light.
"As that comes in I will continue to disclose that, but that could be right up to the day before trial, and that is my duty, as continuing discovery requires," Collins said.
Collins said that recent discovery referred to by O'Brien were test results on evidence.
Coss set a trial date of Nov. 28 for Peters, as O'Brien stated that he would be out of the country during the middle of November.
Trial dates have been scheduled for Nov. 7 for Binegar, Forsha and Smith. Another pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. for Parr.
"We will have no choice but to try it separately because Mr. O'Brien couldn't work his calendar to the court's calendar, which is unfortunate because it will be more expensive," Collins told The Highland County Press.
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