Several plead guilty in drug, forgery, sex cases

Published 12:00 am Monday, April 19, 2004

Two Columbus men were among those who pleaded guilty last week in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court to drug-related charges.

Brandon M. Bowers, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony possession of crack cocaine. Judge Richard Walton sentenced Bowers to 4 years in prison and fined him $10,000. Further, his driver's license was suspended for 4 years. Bowers also faces a probation violation charge in Franklin County. Walton ordered Bowers to serve his sentence in Lawrence County concurrently with any imposed in Franklin County.

Also, Theodore Gambill, 29,

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pleaded guilty to trafficking in crack cocaine. He will be sentenced May 19, following a pre-sentence investigation.

An Ironton-area man was sentenced to 1-10 years for a 1992 sexual violation involving a child.

Robin Ruggles, 43, pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition involving a girl under the age of 13.

Because the incident occurred prior to changes in state sentencing laws, old sentencing procedures were applied in this case, according to the Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr.'s Office. Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Frank McCown ordered Ruggles to spend at least one year, but not more than 10 years in prison in connection with that incident.

Also, a Russell, Ky., man was sentenced to 4 years community controlled sanction under intensive supervised probation after he pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery.

McCown ordered Benjy Mullins, 21, to successfully complete an appropriate program at STAR Community Justice Center as well.

Mullins must also pay restitution and court costs. If he violates the terms of his CCS/ISP, he could be sentenced to 100 months in prison.