Scarberry sentenced to community control on charges stemming from alleged meth lab fire
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A Hillsboro woman who was charged in September with four counts of endangering children, and first-degree felony manufacturing drugs, was sentenced to community control and drug treatment, after she testified in court against her co-defendant.
Casey Scarberry, 23, of Hillsboro, appeared in court Thursday in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
Scarberry and her co-defendant, David Bailey, were indicted on the charges in November, following a Sept. 24 fire in their home in the 100 block of Pleasant Street in Hillsboro. The fire started as a result of drug manufacturing, and four children, ages 9, 7, 4 and 3, were at the home when the fire started.
Bailey was found guilty Feb. 10 following a jury trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court of four charges of endangering children, and not guilty on the manufacturing drugs charge. Scarberry testified during the trial against Bailey. As part of the agreement, Scarberry pleaded guilty to the charges of endangering children, and the manufacturing drug charges were dismissed. The state recommended that she be sentenced to community control and the STAR drug treatment program.
Bailey was sentenced to serve eight years in prison.
"I think the prosecution is being very generous" in the plea deal, said Coss, who also presided over Bailey's trial.
Coss said that he felt Scarberry did not tell the full truth when she testified against Bailey, and that he felt a conviction could have been reached without her assistance. Coss clarified that he was not insinuating that Scarberry should be tried for perjury, but that she cooperated in the minimal amount in order to honor her plea agreement, but did what she could to not make things worse for Bailey.
"I don't think there is any way you didn't know what was going on in that house," Coss said. "Everyone in the neighborhood knew what was going on in that house. You're a drug addict. There were items found in the bedroom where you stayed. There were items in the trash pile related to the manufacture of drugs. I don't think the jury convicted (Bailey) because of your testimony. I think you lied."
Coss said that it was a good thing Scarberry and Bailey were able to get the children out of the house unharmed.
Scarberry, who was represented by attorney Anthony Baker, told the court that she wants to turn her life around.
"I really do want to be able to make better choices and a better way of life," Scarberry told Cross.
Scarberry was sentenced to three years of community control, and to the STAR program. She is to remain incarcerated in the Highland County Justice Center until she begins the program on March 23. She will receive 184 days of jail time credit. She was also ordered to obtain her GED, pay $50 a month in supervision fees, and perform 400 hours of community service.
The judge asked Scarberry if she was a mother. When she said that she was, Coss said that at this point in time, she was not a very good mother.
"That doesn't mean you can't be a good mother," Coss said.
He wrote in the court order that Scarberry, whose children are currently in her parents' custody, was not to be given custody of any children without the consent of the Highland County Adult Parole Authority.
A Hillsboro woman who was charged in September with four counts of endangering children, and first-degree felony manufacturing drugs, was sentenced to community control and drug treatment, after she testified in court against her co-defendant.
Casey Scarberry, 23, of Hillsboro, appeared in court Thursday in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office.
Scarberry and her co-defendant, David Bailey, were indicted on the charges in November, following a Sept. 24 fire in their home in the 100 block of Pleasant Street in Hillsboro. The fire started as a result of drug manufacturing, and four children, ages 9, 7, 4 and 3, were at the home when the fire started.
Bailey was found guilty Feb. 10 following a jury trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court of four charges of endangering children, and not guilty on the manufacturing drugs charge. Scarberry testified during the trial against Bailey. As part of the agreement, Scarberry pleaded guilty to the charges of endangering children, and the manufacturing drug charges were dismissed. The state recommended that she be sentenced to community control and the STAR drug treatment program.
Bailey was sentenced to serve eight years in prison.
"I think the prosecution is being very generous [in the plea deal]," said Coss, who also presided over Bailey's trial.
Coss said that he felt Scarberry did not tell the full truth when she testified against Bailey, and that he felt a conviction could have been reached without her assistance. Coss clarified that he was not insinuating that Scarberry should be tried for perjury, but that she cooperated in the minimal amount in order to honor her plea agreement, but did what she could to not make things worse for Bailey.
"I don't think there is any way you didn't know what was going on in that house," Coss said. "Everyone in the neighborhood knew what was going on in that house. You're a drug addict. There were items found in the bedroom where you stayed. There were items in the trash pile related to the manufacture of drugs. I don't think the jury convicted (Bailey) because of your testimony. I think you lied."
Coss said that it was a good thing Scarberry and Bailey were able to get the children out of the house unharmed.
Scarberry, who was represented by attorney Anthony Baker, told the court that she wants to turn her life around.
"I really do want to be able to make better choices and a better way of life," Scarberry told Cross.
Scarberry was sentenced to three years of community control, and to the STAR program. She is to remain incarcerated in the Highland County Justice Center until she begins the program on March 23. She will receive 184 days of jail time credit. She was also ordered to obtain her GED, pay $50 a month in supervision fees, and perform 400 hours of community service.
The judge asked Scarberry if she was a mother. When she said that she was, Coss said that at this point in time, she was not a very good mother.
"That doesn't mean you can't be a good mother," Coss said.
He wrote in the court order that Scarberry, whose children are currently in her parents' custody, was not to be given custody of any children without the consent of the Highland County Adult Parole Authority.
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