A new drug is making its way into southern Ohio and two were indicted this week on possession of the substance by a Lawrence County grand jury.

Dave Marcum, chief investigator with the prosecutor’s office and director of the Lawrence Drug and Major Crimes Task Force, said the drug, Alpha-PVP, has begun to pop up in Lawrence County and the surrounding area.

“We’ve been hearing a lot more about it in our area,” Marcum said. “There are others seeing it, too, in Portsmouth and Jackson.”

Alpha-PVP, or Alpha Meth, is a synthetic stimulant similar to methamphetamine.

“It is something that is commonly derived from outside the country,” Marcum said.

Misty Ashworth, 36, of 2936 U.S. 23, Piketon, was indicted on a fifth-degree count of possession of the substance.

In an unrelated case, Daryl R. Bryant, 31, of 181 Rosebud St., Coal Grove, was also indicted on the same charge, as well as misdemeanor falsification, criminal trespass and resisting arrest.

Other indictments filed by the office of Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson are:

• Joey M. Lewis, 31, of 217 N. Sixth St., Ironton, tampering with evidence, possession of cocaine, misdemeanor possession of drugs;

• Brian K. Williams, 35, of 1122 S. Fourth St., Ironton, possession of cocaine and possession of drugs;

• Christopher Webb, 19, of P.O. Box 92, Walton, W.Va., possession of drugs;

• Cory A. Layne, 24, of 2007 N. Fourth St., Ironton, two counts of possession of drugs;

• Cora L. Tomblin, 49, of 212 Heritage Drive, Huntington, W.Va., possession of drug; and possession of drug paraphernalia;

• Brandon Jackson Walker, 32, of 304 Delores Ave., South Point, three counts of theft from the elderly;

• Melissa Doss, 27, of 11287 County Road 1, Chesapeake, breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools;

• Charles C. Riley, 26, of 11287 County Road 1, Chesapeake, breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools;

• James A. Miller, 25, of 266 Township Road 209, Willow Wood, two counts of burglary;

• Chancie R. Berry, 19, of 95 Private Drive 2404, Kitts Hill, breaking and entering;

• Donna Sanchez, 29, of 3132 Carter Ave., Ashland, Ky., forgery.

An indictment is a formal allegation that an individual has committed a crime. The accused are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In other court news:

• Clint Salmons, 22, of 1639 County Road 104, pleaded guilty to a second-degree county of burglary Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Judge Charles Cooper set sentencing for June 11.

• William Wilburn, 39, of 516 Hecla St., Ironton, was sentenced to four years in prison for a second-degree count of illegal manufacture of drugs, to which he previously pleaded guilty.

Cooper also sentenced the man to 11 months in prison for probation violations, to be served concurrently.