Highland County Task Force investigation yields 4 indictments; 2 charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity

Four individuals, including three co-defendants, were arrested on drug trafficking and possession charges this week as a result of Highland County Task Force investigations. Two of the four individuals were also charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

As previously reported, four indictments were sealed, or made secret, at the conclusion of the Tuesday, May 6 Highland County grand jury sessions. All four defendants have since been arrested and had their indictments unsealed.

A 23-count indictment was handed down against James Steven Fettro, 63, of Hillsboro, with co-defendant Katie Fettro, 21, of Hillsboro charged with 19 counts and co-defendant Christopher Starkey, 20, of South Salem charged with two counts.

The charges against James Steven Fettro include:

• One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony;

• 10 counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, one first-degree felony, five third-degree felonies and four fifth-degree felonies;

• 10 counts of aggravated possession of drugs, one first-degree felony, five third-degree felonies and four fifth-degree felonies;

• One count of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony; and

• A forfeiture specification.

Katie Fettro’s charges, all as a co-defendant to James Steven Fettro, include:

• One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony;

• Nine counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, one first-degree felony, four third-degree felonies and four fifth-degree felonies; and

• Nine counts of aggravated possession of drugs, one first-degree felony, four third-degree felonies and four fifth-degree felonies.

Starkey was indicted on one count each of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies, with both Fettros as codefendants.

The indictment charges the Fettros with “recklessly, while being employed by or associated with, directly or indirectly, conducting or participating in the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of corrupt activity” during the period of June 1-Dec. 31, 2024.

All 21 drug charges in the indictment stem from that time frame, where it is alleged that those charged “did knowingly sell or offer to sell,” and “did knowingly obtain, possess or use,” psilocybin (mushrooms).

James Steven Fettro and Katie Fettro are accused of knowingly selling or offering to sell, and knowingly obtaining, possessing or using, psilocybin (mushrooms) on dates in July, August, September (four different days), October (two different days) and November 2024. Starkey’s charges are from an alleged incident in September 2024.  

James Steven Fettro is additionally charged with allegedly knowingly selling or offering to sell, and knowingly obtaining, possessing or using, mushrooms on a third day in October, as well as allegedly knowingly selling or offering to sell marijuana on that same day.

The various felony levels are based on the amount of mushrooms allegedly trafficked or possessed, with the two first-degree felony drug charges allegedly involving drugs in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than 100 times bulk amount.

Subject to forfeiture from James Steven Fettro are a property on Pigeon Roost Road; U.S. currency totaling $48,297; and eight different weapons for their alleged use or intended use in the course of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

In an unrelated case, Steven Jacobs, 58, of Hillsboro was indicted on six counts, including trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony; possession of drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor; two counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, one third-degree and one fourth-degree felony; and two counts of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, both fifth-degree felonies.

The indictment alleges that Jacobs “knowingly sold or offered to sell,” and “knowingly obtained, possessed or used,” meth on two different dates in September 2024. The drug charges involved the alleged trafficking and possession of buprenorphine in August 2024.

An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.

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