Byrdsong, Buycks sentenced in drug trafficking case

Two Dayton men were sentenced to prison time Thursday in Highland County Common Pleas Court for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation in the Greenfield area that allegedly sold drugs during the first part of the month so that "customers" would have money from their public assistance checks to spend on drugs.

Baretta Byrdsong and Richard Buycks each appeared before Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss Thursday. They, along with co-defendants Christian Tuley and Jesse Ray Pryor, had been scheduled to stand trial beginning the week of Feb. 6. They were each indicted in October on five counts, including trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the second degree; trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the second degree; and a forfeiture specification, following a Sept. 2 raid by the Greenfield Police Department and Hillsboro/Greenfield Joint Special Response Team on a home on Second Street in Greenfield.

Byrdsong and Buycks each pleaded guilty to the indictment Feb. 6, just prior to the start of the trial. On Dec. 20, Tuley pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs, felonies of the third degree; and a forfeiture specification. He was sentenced to 12 months on each count to be served consecutively, for a total of 24 months in prison. While the jury deliberated, on Feb. 7, Pryor entered a plea of guilty to a charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree, and the remaining charges were dismissed. Coss sentenced him to two years in prison. 

It was stated during the trial proceedings that each defendant had a role in the business. Collins said the testimony showed that Tuley provided the location, and Buycks and Byrdsong supplied the product - with Byrdsong as the "money man."

Byrdsong had been scheduled to have a hearing regarding a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, along with the sentencing hearing Thursday. The motion had been filed by his attorney, Marshall Lachman, on Feb. 17. Lachman then filed a motion to withdraw as his attorney on Feb. 28. 

On Thursday, Lachman told the court that Byrdsong had decided to go forward with the plea, and because of that decision, he withdrew his motion to withdraw as counsel. 

Lachman said that Byrdsong had one prior conviction for trafficking, and that he is "eager to do his time and get back to his family. He has four children, and that is the reason he wants to move forward with the plea, to minimize his time in prison."

Byrdson read a prepared statement to the court, in which he apologized for his actions. 

"I'm not some kingpin from Dayton," Byrdsong said, telling the court that he had a job that he worked at before he was laid off. 

"I made poor decisions, and I'm sincerely sorry," Byrdsong said. 

Coss said that prison sentencing was mandatory under state sentencing guidelines and noted that $1,800 was recovered from Byrdsong when he was arrested. 

In accordance with Ohio law, the possession and trafficking charges were merged, and Byrdsong was sentenced to 4 years in prison on each of the trafficking charges, to be served concurrently for a total of four years. His license was also suspended for five years. The $1,800 was forfeited to the Greenfield Police Department. He was given 40 days of jail time credit and remanded into the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office. 

Buycks appeared in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office. He was represented by attorney Anthony VanNoy. Buycks' charges were also merged, and he was sentenced on the two trafficking counts. 

VanNoy said that he has known Buycks for several years and that it was "heartbreaking" to see him in this situation because when he was not on drugs, "he has so much potential. He is just a nice guy. He is a kind-hearted person who has made some horrible, stupid mistakes."

"I apologize for having to go through this situation," Buycks told the court. "Show me some sympathy, and give me a second chance." 

Coss noted that there was a mandatory two years of prison time on the charges. 

Buycks was sentenced to three years on one count and four years on the other trafficking count, to be served concurrently, for a total of four years. Coss noted that Buycks had previous drug convictions and "a number of run-ins with the law." He was given 181 days of jail time credit, and his license was suspended for five years. A total of $151 was forfeited to the GPD.