Most defendants in organized drug trafficking case have pleaded guilty
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Of the nine defendants facing charges regarding organized drug trafficking in Highland County, six have pleaded guilty to drug charges. Three defendants remain and are scheduled for trial.
The nine were arrested - most in the Greenfield area - during a drug bust in April after a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment. There were a total of 153 indictments involving real estate, vehicles, cash and other assets connected to the alleged activity. The indictments were the result of several months of investigation by detectives with the HCSO, U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, GPD, and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office into concerns of cocaine and heroin trafficking in Highland County and the surrounding area.
The three remaining defendants - Rodger Cassell, Jeffrey Stevens and Zachary Bondurant scheduled for trial in July. They had been scheduled for trial June 13, but the date was continued.
On July 8, Melinda Butcher, Richard Rickman, Joseph Cowman and Jamie Robinette each pleaded guilty to charges in the indictment.
Interim Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told The Highland County Press that she was, "Pleased with the way things have been going."
In April, Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that the arrests were "just the tip of the iceberg" and that while the arrests would put "a significant dent" in drug trafficking in Highland County, his department and other agencies would continue investigations and arrests in organized drug trafficking.
At trial, Cassell is facing 57 counts, ranging from engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale.
Stevens is charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and 16 other counts, including trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
Bondurant is facing 13 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.
This week, Butcher pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; and one charge of tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree.
She was initially charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs, a felony f the third degree; trafficking in drugs, a felony of the first degree; possession of criminal tools, a felony of the fifth degree; along with a forfeiture specification. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13 at 9 a.m.
Rickman, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs.
Rickman had originally bee indicted on 11 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13 at 9 a.m.
Cowman pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking drugs in a school zone, felonies of the fourth degree.
He had originally been indicted on engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, and 12 other charges, including trafficking drugs in a school zone, and possession of drugs. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13 at 9 a.m.
Robinette pleaded guilty to charges on June 8, but further information was not immediately available. Robinette had originally been charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; and four other charges, including trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
On May 19, Megan Butcher had pleaded guilty to charges of possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree. She was sentenced to two years on each count, to be served consecutively, for a total of four years in prison.
Butcher had originally been indicted on engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs in a presence of a juvenile, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs in the presence of a juvenile, a felony of the second degree; and a forfeiture specification.
On April 5, Maudy Jackson pleaded guilty to eight counts of drug trafficking, and the remaining 16 counts were dismissed. Additionally, she agreed on a real estate forfeiture. Jackson was sentenced to six months on each count, to be served consecutively, for a total of four years in prison.
Jackson had originally been indicted on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; and multiple counts of trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
Of the nine defendants facing charges regarding organized drug trafficking in Highland County, six have pleaded guilty to drug charges. Three defendants remain and are scheduled for trial.
The nine were arrested - most in the Greenfield area - during a drug bust in April after a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment. There were a total of 153 indictments involving real estate, vehicles, cash and other assets connected to the alleged activity. The indictments were the result of several months of investigation by detectives with the HCSO, U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, GPD, and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office into concerns of cocaine and heroin trafficking in Highland County and the surrounding area.
The three remaining defendants - Rodger Cassell, Jeffrey Stevens and Zachary Bondurant scheduled for trial in July. They had been scheduled for trial June 13, but the date was continued.
On July 8, Melinda Butcher, Richard Rickman, Joseph Cowman and Jamie Robinette each pleaded guilty to charges in the indictment.
Interim Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told The Highland County Press that she was "pleased with the way things have been going."
In April, Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that the arrests were "just the tip of the iceberg" and that while the arrests would put "a significant dent" in drug trafficking in Highland County, his department and other agencies would continue investigations and arrests in organized drug trafficking.
At trial, Cassell is facing 57 counts, ranging from engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale.
Stevens is charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and 16 other counts, including trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
Bondurant is facing 13 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, and possession of drugs.
This week, Butcher pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; and one charge of tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree.
She was initially charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs, a felony of the third degree; trafficking in drugs, a felony of the first degree; possession of criminal tools, a felony of the fifth degree; along with a forfeiture specification. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13 at 9 a.m.
Rickman pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs.
Rickman had originally been indicted on 11 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13 at 9 a.m.
Cowman pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking drugs in a school zone, felonies of the fourth degree.
He had originally been indicted on engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, and 12 other charges, including trafficking drugs in a school zone, and possession of drugs. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13 at 9 a.m.
Robinette pleaded guilty to charges on June 8, but further information was not immediately available. Robinette had originally been charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; and four other charges, including trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
On May 19, Megan Butcher had pleaded guilty to charges of possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree. She was sentenced to two years on each count, to be served consecutively, for a total of four years in prison.
Butcher had originally been indicted on engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; possession of drugs, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs in a presence of a juvenile, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs in the presence of a juvenile, a felony of the second degree; and a forfeiture specification.
On April 5, Maudy Jackson pleaded guilty to eight counts of drug trafficking, and the remaining 16 counts were dismissed. Additionally, she agreed on a real estate forfeiture. Jackson was sentenced to six months on each count, to be served consecutively, for a total of four years in prison.
Jackson had originally been indicted on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; and multiple counts of trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
[[In-content Ad]]