Defendant pleads in drug trafficking case
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Greenfield woman who was charged with 11 counts in an alleged heroin trafficking case has pleaded guilty in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Tesse Everhart appeared before Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss Thursday, with her attorney Justin Gray.
There were 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.
Everhart had been indicted on one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, a felony of the first degree, five counts of trafficking in heroin and five counts of possession of heroin. On Wednesday she pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking heroin in the vicinity of a school, a felony of the fourth degree. The alleged offense had taken place in November 2010, along with co-defendants Frank Parr and Thomas Peters.
The state, represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, recommended 17 months in prison. Everhart faces a maximum of 18 months in prison on the charge, along with a $5,000 five and a suspension of her driver's license.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for a later date, and Coss continued bond.
Coss met with the attorneys in chambers briefly to discuss how the sentenced would be affected by House Bill 86, which went into law last week and changed state sentencing statutes.
When asked by Coss if she was facing charges in any other county, Everhart said that she had been charged in Delaware County in a drug case at the same time she was charged in Highland County.
Also Wednesday, a co-defendant in the case, Donna Gillam, appeared for a status hearing. She appeared in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office and with her attorney, George Katchmer.
Gillam was scheduled for trial on Tuesday. Several co-defendants are scheduled for trial on Nov. 7 and one defendant, Thomas Peters, is scheduled for trial on Nov. 28.
Coss asked if the state was ready to proceed to trial on Tuesday.
Collins said that the state had indicted all of the defendants together because they intended to try all of them together.
"We believe going to trial on Tuesday would be a waste of the county's resources," Collins said. "Nobody had filed a motion to split up the cases."
Collins said the cases should be tried at the same time for "judicial economy, as well as financial."
Katchmer said that he would be filing a motion to sever the case from being tried with co-defendant Thomas Peters.
Coss scheduled a trial date for Nov. 28.
In addition to Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr and Bradley Rickman have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment.
Peters, Gillam, Stephanie Ford, Quentin Binegar and Greg Smith are still scheduled for trial.
A Greenfield woman who was charged with 11 counts in an alleged heroin trafficking case has pleaded guilty in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
Tesse Everhart appeared before Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss Thursday, with her attorney Justin Gray.
There were 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.
Everhart had been indicted on one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, a felony of the first degree, five counts of trafficking in heroin and five counts of possession of heroin. On Wednesday, she pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking heroin in the vicinity of a school, a felony of the fourth degree. The alleged offense had taken place in November 2010, along with co-defendants Frank Parr and Thomas Peters.
The state, represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, recommended 17 months in prison. Everhart faces a maximum of 18 months in prison on the charge, along with a $5,000 fine and a suspension of her driver's license.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for a later date, and Coss continued bond.
Coss met with the attorneys in chambers briefly to discuss how the sentenced would be affected by House Bill 86, which went into law last week and changed state sentencing statutes.
When asked by Coss if she was facing charges in any other county, Everhart said that she had been charged in Delaware County in a drug case at the same time she was charged in Highland County.
Also Wednesday, a co-defendant in the case, Donna Gillam, appeared for a status hearing. She appeared in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office and with her attorney, George Katchmer.
Gillam was scheduled for trial on Tuesday. Several co-defendants are scheduled for trial on Nov. 7 and one defendant, Thomas Peters, is scheduled for trial on Nov. 28.
Coss asked if the state was ready to proceed to trial on Tuesday.
Collins said that the state had indicted all of the defendants together because they intended to try all of them together.
"We believe going to trial on Tuesday would be a waste of the county's resources," Collins said. "Nobody had filed a motion to split up the cases."
Collins said the cases should be tried at the same time for "judicial economy, as well as financial."
Katchmer said that he would be filing a motion to sever the case from being tried with co-defendant Thomas Peters.
Coss scheduled a trial date for Nov. 28.
In addition to Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr and Bradley Rickman have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment.
Peters, Gillam, Stephanie Ford, Quentin Binegar and Greg Smith are still scheduled for trial.
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