Jurors begin deliberations in drug enterprise case
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The jury began deliberations just before 11 a.m Wednesday for two men accused of being a part of a drug trafficking enterprise.
Zachary Bondurant, of Bainbridge, is charged with 13 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, trafficking drugs in a school zone and possession of drugs.
Jeffrey Stevens, of Wilmington, is charged with 17 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
In closing arguments, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the jury that a drug enterprise, like in the one alleged in the first-degree felony charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, are like the ripples in water after someone throws a rock into a pond.
Bondurant and Stevens are the ones who threw the rock in the pond, Collins said.
In their closing statements, attorneys for the defense Matthew Faris and Anthony Baker repeatedly questioned the credibility of the witnesses presented by the state.
Faris said that with the exception of law enforcement officers, each person who testified had a history with drugs, had reasons to lie, and that their testimony was "tainted."
"Every witness had motivation not to tell the truth," Faris said.
Seven former co-defendants who were indicted in April along with Bondurant and Stevens testified during the trial. Six testified for the state, and one, Rodger Cassell, testified for the defense. They all received plea deals, and with the exception of Richard Rickman, are serving time in prison.
Baker said that the witnesses who testified against his client - Melinda Steward, Megan Butcher, Joseph Cowman and Jamie Robinette - faced a combined 96 years in prison. The four have been sentenced to a combined 8.5 years in prison, he said.
"Look at the potential each person faces," Baker said. "Who has the most at stake?"
Baker and Faris both said their clients did not know each other until they were charged as co-defendants and met at the Highland County Justice Center.
Baker said that Bondurant is an admitted drug addict, who has been using since he was 9 years old. Faris said that Stevens was released from prison in August 2010, and there is no forensic evidence that shows he was a part of the alleged drug ring.
Faris said Steward was "caught red-handed with 154.2 grams of heroin and 34.4 grams of cocaine. Yet, she was able to receive a plea agreement, and (the state) dismissed first-degree felony charges (of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity) in exchange (for testimony against his client."
"Do you feel reasonable doubt exists in a testimony of this nature?" Faris asked the jury. "Do you feel confident trusting these witnesses?"
Faris and Baker said that there was no corroborating evidence against their clients that supports the testimony of the witnesses.
Collins said that the witnesses testified that their plea agreements with the state hinged on their telling the truth, and that the state "gives consideration" to people who choose to own up to what they do and work to stop drug trafficking in Highland County. She said that the state's witnesses told consistent stories, and the only testimony that differed were the stories told by Bondurant and Stevens.
"(Bondurant and Stevens) picked the witnesses for the state," Collins said. "These are their business associates."
Collins said that engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity "is no different than running a business."
Collins used a flow chart to illustrate to jurors the alleged source of the drugs and how they were used.
"Rodger Cassell is the CEO of this business," Collins said. "Stevens and Bondurant (are) supervisors. Maudy, Richard, Melinda, Joe, Jamie, these are your employees. The customers are (confidential informants for law enforcement who allegedly purchased the drugs). The product offered for sale in this business was heroin and cocaine. A lot of heroin and cocaine."
Following the drug ring is like a child's connect-the-dots puzzle, Collins said, and that it is sometimes hard to see how one dot connects to the other until you are able to draw a line between each one.
Collins said testimony showed that Bondurant received drugs from Rodger Cassell, those drugs then went to Joseph Cowman, who sold those drugs to a confidential informant (CI). Stevens, she said, received drugs from Cassell, those drugs went to Richard Rickman, which were then sold to a CI.
"I am asking you to connect the dots now," Collins said. "It is time to hold Stevens and Bondurant responsible for the ripples they have caused in their drug distribution."
The jury began deliberations just before 11 a.m Wednesday for two men accused of being a part of a drug trafficking enterprise.
Zachary Bondurant, of Bainbridge, is charged with 13 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, trafficking drugs in a school zone and possession of drugs.
Jeffrey Stevens, of Wilmington, is charged with 17 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
In closing arguments, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the jury that a drug enterprise, like in the one alleged in the first-degree felony charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, are like the ripples in water after someone throws a rock into a pond.
Bondurant and Stevens are the ones who threw the rock in the pond, Collins said.
In their closing statements, attorneys for the defense Matthew Faris and Anthony Baker repeatedly questioned the credibility of the witnesses presented by the state.
Faris said that with the exception of law enforcement officers, each person who testified had a history with drugs, had reasons to lie, and that their testimony was "tainted."
"Every witness had motivation not to tell the truth," Faris said.
Seven former co-defendants who were indicted in April along with Bondurant and Stevens testified during the trial. Six testified for the state, and one, Rodger Cassell, testified for the defense. They all received plea deals, and with the exception of Richard Rickman, are serving time in prison.
Baker said that the witnesses who testified against his client - Melinda Steward, Megan Butcher, Joseph Cowman and Jamie Robinette - faced a combined 96 years in prison. The four have been sentenced to a combined 8.5 years in prison, he said.
"Look at the potential each person faces," Baker said. "Who has the most at stake?"
Baker and Faris both said their clients did not know each other until they were charged as co-defendants and met at the Highland County Justice Center.
Baker said that Bondurant is an admitted drug addict, who has been using since he was 9 years old. Faris said that Stevens was released from prison in August 2010, and there is no forensic evidence that shows he was a part of the alleged drug ring.
Faris said Steward was "caught red-handed with 154.2 grams of heroin and 34.4 grams of cocaine. Yet, she was able to receive a plea agreement, and (the state) dismissed first-degree felony charges (of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity) in exchange (for testimony against his client.)
"Do you feel reasonable doubt exists in a testimony of this nature?" Faris asked the jury. "Do you feel confident trusting these witnesses?"
Faris and Baker said that there was no corroborating evidence against their clients that supports the testimony of the witnesses.
Collins said that the witnesses testified that their plea agreements with the state hinged on their telling the truth, and that the state "gives consideration" to people who choose to own up to what they do and work to stop drug trafficking in Highland County. She said that the state's witnesses told consistent stories, and the only testimony that differed were the stories told by Bondurant and Stevens.
"(Bondurant and Stevens) picked the witnesses for the state," Collins said. "These are their business associates."
Collins said that engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity "is no different than running a business."
Collins used a flow chart to illustrate to jurors the alleged source of the drugs and how they were used.
"Rodger Cassell is the CEO of this business," Collins said. "Stevens and Bondurant (are) supervisors. Maudy, Richard, Melinda, Joe, Jamie, these are your employees. The customers are (confidential informants for law enforcement who allegedly purchased the drugs). The product offered for sale in this business was heroin and cocaine. A lot of heroin and cocaine."
Following the drug ring is like a child's connect-the-dots puzzle, Collins said, and that it is sometimes hard to see how one dot connects to the other until you are able to draw a line between each one.
Collins said testimony showed that Bondurant received drugs from Rodger Cassell, those drugs then went to Joseph Cowman, who sold those drugs to a confidential informant (CI). Stevens, she said, received drugs from Cassell, those drugs went to Richard Rickman, which were then sold to a CI.
"I am asking you to connect the dots now," Collins said. "It is time to hold Stevens and Bondurant responsible for the ripples they have caused in their drug distribution."
[[In-content Ad]]Since deliberations began, the jury has submitted five written communications to the court. Some of the communications were regarding correcting dates on verdict forms that did not match the indictment. They also submitted a request for a transcript of the testimony of Richard Rickman and Melinda Steward.
Coss said that there is no transcript available, and that an option is to bring the jury back into the courtroom so they can hear an audio recording. Ohio law, he said, leaves that determination up to the court. Defense attorney Baker objected, saying that he felt the jury may give more weight to that testimony, since they will have heard it twice.
Coss said he would instruct the jury that no more weight is to be given to that testimony.
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said she did not object, because the court should provide, "Whatever they needs to make their decision and serve justice."