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Drug charges bring over-50 crowd to court
Published Saturday, October 24, 2009
Think of drug peddling and what comes to mind? Young adults, maybe?
In Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Wednesday, four people all over the age of 50 were brought in to face charges of dealing or using drugs.
James H. Ratcliff, 56, of 1192 County Road 9, Crown City, was arraigned on charges of aggravated possession of drugs, possession of crack cocaine and obstructing official business. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Marty Stillpass.
Judge D. Scott Bowling allowed bond posted in a lower court to continue but added a $20,000 own recognizance (OR) bond to it. Ratcliff must return to court Nov. 10 for a pretrial conference.
Linda Rosebrough, 59, of 2506 S. Fourth St., Ironton, was arraigned on a six-count indictment alleging complicity to trafficking in drugs. She pleaded not guilty through her attorney, Luke Styer.
“These are serious charges,” Lawrence County Prosecutor told Judge Charles Cooper in asking for a $20,000 cash/$40,000 property bond. Styer argued Rosebrough was not a flight risk, given her medical condition.
“She’s confined to a wheelchair with a broken hip,” Styer pointed out.
Cooper pointed out the Lawrence County Jail does have a nurse and doctor who make visits to the jail to care for prisoners with medical needs. He accepted Collier’s recommendation for bond at scheduled a Nov. 4 pretrial conference.
Frank E. Ziegler, 48, of 1216 S. Fifth, Ironton, was arraigned on a five-count drug indictment alleging trafficking in marijuana, corrupting another with drugs and three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Tyler Smith.
Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Jeff Smith asked Bowling to set bond at $50,000 cash, $100,000 property plus an OR bond, but Tyler Smith argued for lower bail.
“My client is a Lawrence County resident, he’s from Ironton, he is working for his landlord, He’s never failed to appear in court before and he’s not a flight risk,” Tyler Smith said.
Bowling set bond a $50,000 OR bond plus $75,000 cash with electronically monitored home confinement. Ziegler must return to court Nov. 4 for a pretrial conference.
Martin L. Stapleton, 51, of 617 Vernon St., Ironton, was arraigned on two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs.
He pleaded not guilty through Tyler Smith, who is also his attorney.
“My client is a resident of Ironton, he has no prior record. He is not employed, he’s on SSI,” Tyler Smith said. “He needs an OR bond. He’s not a violent criminal, not a flight risk.”
Bowling set bond at bond at $50,000 cash with electronically monitored home confinement plus a $50,000 OR bond. Stapleton must return to court Nov. 4 for a pretrial conference.
Gladys E. Lewis, 64, of also of 617 Vernon St., was arraigned on three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs. She pleaded not guilty through her attorney, Mike Gleichauf, who pointed out Lewis is a first-timer in the judicial system.
“She has been charged with allegations that, though serious, are not crimes of violence,” he said. “She has never been in trouble before. Bowling set bond at $100,000 cash, surety or property plus a $50,000 OR bond. Lewis must return to court Nov. 4 for a pretrial conference.
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Comments
Posted by fran111 (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh my goodness, This is the first time I've heard of over-50 drug dealers... and one in a wheelchair? Oh my. Actually I agree with Neo, Pharmaceutical companies are just legal drug dealers - creating addicts. This reminds me of a funny graphic I saw.... http://www.typobounty.com/Funny/Baby_Boo...
Posted by lucy3583 (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel if someone is so bad or in so much pain that they need such strong drugs they should be in the hospital or it should be administered by a physician. The Pharmaceutical companies are the dealers and the "doctors" are the pushers. Between the two they are making sure they get people addicted real fast and keep them that way, at least until they "accidentally overdose" as they say. And most of the people would have never thought of ever becoming that way until the "doctors" decided they "needed" such strong pain medication. I have gotten so I don't trust very many doctors and blame them for all the drug problems we have in this area (country) today. There has to be something that can be done to all involved.
Posted by mindyourown00 (anonymous) on October 28, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oh my goodness since when did someone pushing crack cocain become lesser of a charge or crime then some older lady in a wheelchair with allegations of complicity?are we all missing the bigger picture here?go out and get the people who are actually dealing these drugs{who have actually been caught}ya know quit going on here say to make all these arrests.
Posted by osufan (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 1:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I SOOO AGREE WITH NEO ARREST THE DR'S AND MANUFACTURES OF THESE PILLS PUT THERE ASS IN JAIL I KNOW SOMEONE WHO WAS GOIN TO FL. GETTING PILLS AND THERE WASENT ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIM BUT THE DR IN FL DID AND GAVE HIM A BUNCH OF PILLS AND HE WAS FOUND DEAD THE DAY AFTER RETURNING FROM FL. HE LEFT BEHIND A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN I THINK THAT DR SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS DEATH!THEY ARE MAKING MILLIONS
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