Rickman sentenced on drug charges from 'corrupt activity case'
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Hillsboro man indicted on a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity was sentenced to community control Friday in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Richard Rickman pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs in June.
Rickman had originally been indicted on 11 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs; and possession of drugs.
During sentencing Friday, Rickman's attorney Lee Koogler said that Rickman had no prior felony record and that while it was no excuse, his addiction to heroin motivated his actions.
"He wants to do everything he can to not go back to that lifestyle," Koogler said. "He has family support. He wants the opportunity to prove to the court that community control is appropriate."
The state, represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, recommended community control.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said that community control is "not the norm" when it comes to these types of cases.
"It is not the norm for the state to recommend community control, and it is not the norm for this judge to approve it," Coss said.
Saying that he was taking into consideration Rickman's lack of a felony record, Coss sentenced him to three years of community control under the supervision of the Adult Parole Authority.
Coss also ordered that he serve 400 hours of community service, working 20 hours a week for 22 weeks until he became employed or enrolled as a full-time student, and ordered him to seek drug treatment and to apply to the STAR program.
"This is a great opportunity to turn your life around," Coss said.
Rickman was one of nine defendants in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity case who were charged in April after a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment. There were 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.
Six of the defendants have entered into plea agreements, and three are scheduled for trial in August: Rodger Cassell, Jeffrey Stevens and Zachary Bondurant.
A Hillsboro man indicted on a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity was sentenced to community control Friday in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Richard Rickman pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs in June.
Rickman had originally been indicted on 11 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs; and possession of drugs.
During sentencing Friday, Rickman's attorney Lee Koogler said that Rickman had no prior felony record and that while it was no excuse, his addiction to heroin motivated his actions.
"He wants to do everything he can to not go back to that lifestyle," Koogler said. "He has family support. He wants the opportunity to prove to the court that community control is appropriate."
The state, represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, recommended community control.
Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said that community control is "not the norm" when it comes to these types of cases.
"It is not the norm for the state to recommend community control, and it is not the norm for this judge to approve it," Coss said.
Saying that he was taking into consideration Rickman's lack of a felony record, Coss sentenced him to three years of community control under the supervision of the Adult Parole Authority.
Coss also ordered that he serve 400 hours of community service, working 20 hours a week for 22 weeks until he became employed or enrolled as a full-time student, and ordered him to seek drug treatment and to apply to the STAR program.
"This is a great opportunity to turn your life around," Coss said.
Rickman was one of nine defendants in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity case who were charged in April after a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment. There were 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.
Six of the defendants have entered into plea agreements, and three are scheduled for trial in August: Rodger Cassell, Jeffrey Stevens and Zachary Bondurant.
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