Binegar, Smith sentenced on drug charges from corrupt activities case
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Two area men indicted in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case pleaded guilty to drug charges Wednesday, and have been sentenced to prison time.
Greg Smith, of Leesburg, and Quentin Binegar, of Bainbridge, were among 11 defendants in the case who were indicted in August, 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. Tesse Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr and Bradley Rickman have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment.
Thomas Peters, Donna Gillam and Stephanie Ford are currently scheduled for trial on Nov. 28.
On Wednesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court, Smith pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree felony charges of trafficking drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile, and one count of third-degree felony possession of drugs. As part of the plea agreement, Smith must testify against his remaining co-defendants, and additional charges of first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs were dismissed. The state recommended that he be sentenced to 15 months on each trafficking charge, and 24 months on the possession charge, to be served consecutively, for a total of four and a half years in prison.
The court proceeded immediately with sentencing. Smith was represented by Mt. Orab attorney Michael Cassidy. Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss noted that Smith has served two prior prison terms, and followed the state's recommendation of four and a half years. Smith was given 99 days of jail time credit, and he was to begin serving the sentence immediately.
Binegar appeared with his attorney Susan Zurface Daniels on two cases.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking drugs in the in the vicinity of a juvenile, felonies of the fourth degree and third degree. As a part of the plea, Binegar agreed to testify against his remaining co-defendants, and charges of first-degree felony of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs, were dismissed. The state recommended that he be sentenced to 12 months and 24 months in prison, to be served consecutively, on each of the charges, for a total of three years in prison.
Coss followed the state's recommendation and sentenced Binegar to three years in prison, noting that he had previously served two prison terms. He was given 98 days of jail time credit, and is to begin serving the sentences immediately.
In a separate case, Binegar also pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, a felony of the second degree. Coss followed the state's recommendation and sentenced him to three years in prison, to be served consecutively to the drug sentences, for a total of six years in prison.
Two area men indicted in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case pleaded guilty to drug charges Wednesday, and have been sentenced to prison time.
Greg Smith, of Leesburg, and Quentin Binegar, of Bainbridge, were among 11 defendants in the case who were indicted in August, 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. Tesse Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr and Bradley Rickman have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment.
Thomas Peters, Donna Gillam and Stephanie Ford are currently scheduled for trial on Nov. 28.
On Wednesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court, Smith pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree felony charges of trafficking drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile, and one count of third-degree felony possession of drugs. As part of the plea agreement, Smith must testify against his remaining co-defendants, and additional charges of first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs were dismissed. The state recommended that he be sentenced to 15 months on each trafficking charge, and 24 months on the possession charge, to be served consecutively, for a total of four and a half years in prison.
The court proceeded immediately with sentencing. Smith was represented by Mt. Orab attorney Michael Cassidy. Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss noted that Smith has served two prior prison terms, and followed the state's recommendation of four and a half years. Smith was given 99 days of jail time credit, and he was to begin serving the sentence immediately.
Binegar appeared with his attorney Susan Zurface Daniels on two cases.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking drugs in the in the vicinity of a juvenile, felonies of the fourth degree and third degree. As a part of the plea, Binegar agreed to testify against his remaining co-defendants, and charges of first-degree felony of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs, were dismissed. The state recommended that he be sentenced to 12 months and 24 months in prison, to be served consecutively, on each of the charges, for a total of three years in prison.
Coss followed the state's recommendation and sentenced Binegar to three years in prison, noting that he had previously served two prison terms. He was given 98 days of jail time credit, and is to begin serving the sentences immediately.
In a separate case, Binegar also pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, a felony of the second degree. Coss followed the state's recommendation and sentenced him to three years in prison, to be served consecutively to the drug sentences, for a total of six years in prison.