Clay Township man found Not Guilty on charges of giving drugs to kids
Lead Summary

By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
After deliberating for approximately half an hour, a jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down two not guilty verdicts for an area man who had been charged with giving marijuana to his kids.
Joel R. Harris, 26, of Clay Township in Highland County, had been indicted in July by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court on two counts of corrupting another with drugs, each a felony of the fourth degree.
A one-day trial was held in Highland County Common Pleas Court on Monday, with the state represented by the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, and Harris represented by attorney Matthew Jewson.
As the verdicts were read by Highland County Clerk of Courts Paulette Donley, family members of Harris made audible exclamations and embraced each other. Harris let out a sigh of relief and put his head down.
When court was adjourned Harris told The Highland County Press that the worst part of the charges was "being without my kids and that he is looking forward to "being able to get my kids back in my life and me back in theirs."
Jewson said that Harris was extremely happy with the outcome of the trial, which showed, "This was never a situation where children were ever administered drugs, which was the initial allegation."
Assistant Highland County Prosecutor David Henry declined to comment on the proceedings.
After deliberating for approximately half an hour, a jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down two not guilty verdicts for an area man who had been charged with giving marijuana to his kids.
Joel R. Harris, 26, of Clay Township in Highland County, had been indicted in July by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court on two counts of corrupting another with drugs, each a felony of the fourth degree.
A one-day trial was held in Highland County Common Pleas Court on Monday, with the state represented by the Highland County Prosecutor's Office, and Harris represented by attorney Matthew Jewson.
As the verdicts were read by Highland County Clerk of Courts Paulette Donley, family members of Harris made audible exclamations and embraced each other. Harris let out a sigh of relief and put his head down.
When court was adjourned Harris told The Highland County Press that the worst part of the charges was "being without my kids and that he is looking forward to "being able to get my kids back in my life and me back in theirs."
Jewson said that Harris was extremely happy with the outcome of the trial, which showed, "This was never a situation where children were ever administered drugs, which was the initial allegation."
Assistant Highland County Prosecutor David Henry declined to comment on the proceedings.
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