Drug suspects arraigned in Common Pleas Court

Published 9:37 am Thursday, September 8, 2011

Drugs and theft were chief among the crimes on the docket Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Michelle Bleigh, 33, of Huntington, W.Va. was arraigned on one count of illegal possession of a drug document. She pleaded not guilty through her attorney, David Reid Dillon.

Judge D. Scott Bowling allowed bond posted in a lower court to continue and added a $10,000 own recognizance (OR) bond. Bleigh must return to court Sept. 21 for a pretrial conference. She was accused of trying to forge a prescription.

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Jimmie W. Sparks, 23, pleaded guilty on a bill of information to one count of theft of drugs. He was accused of taking percocet tablets from a family member in March.

“My client is age 23 and has no prior criminal record,” Sparks’ attorney, Warren Morford said. “He has admitted he has a substance abuse problem and that is why he stole from his father on more than one occasion. He is readily owning up to the problem. He is ready to go to STAR and get the help he needs.”

Bowling sentenced him to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation and ordered Sparks to complete successfully a rehabilitation program at the STAR Community Justice Center.

By pleading guilty on a bill of information, Sparks has chosen not to have his case heard by a grand jury or common pleas jury, admits guilt and proceeds to sentencing.

Douglas N. Price Jr., 28, of 4300 County Road 15, South Point, was arraigned on one count of passing bad checks and one count of theft from the elderly.

He pleaded not guilty through Dillon, who is also his attorney. Bowling allowed a bond posted in a lower court to continue and added a $10,000 OR bond to it. Price must return to court Sept. 21 for a pretrial conference.