An Ironton man was arraigned last week on a 10-count drug indictment.

Robert Knisley, 33, of

1901 S. Third St., pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Chris Delawder. Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Frank McCown set a $20,000 own recognizance bond and ordered Knisley to return to court Sept. 6 for a pretrial conference.

Knisley was among several people making appearance in common pleas court last week.

A South Point woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of felonious assault after a judge asked for more information about an expert witness she had wanted to testify on her behalf.

Patricia Kane, 41, of 89 Township Road 1063, had already been found competent to stand trial but her attorney, Samantha Fields, had asked Judge Richard Walton if the court would pay witness fees for a psychiatrist when Kane goes to trial. Walton said he wanted Fields to find out more about how much this will cost before he approves the idea.

“I need an estimate about what we’re talking about here,” he said.

Kane later pleaded guilty to the charge against her and Walton sentenced her to four years in prison. If she presents no problems while she is incarcerated, Kane may be eligible for judicial release after one year.

She is accused of using a metal baseball bat “to cause harm or attempt to cause harm” to a Lawrence County man during an incident Nov. 2, 2006, according to the indictment against her.

A West Virginia woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to a theft charge against her. Amanda Cassidy, 32, of Kenova, was ordered to serve four years community controlled sanctions under intensive supervised probation and must complete a drug rehabilitation program.

Jessie Scarberry, 29, of 1751 State Route 775, Proctorville pleaded guilty to three counts of complicity to forgery, one count of complicity to identity fraud and three counts of complicity to theft.

Walton sentenced Scarberry to six months in prison on each count, to be served concurrently. He must also make restitution to his victim. In exchange for his guilty plea, a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt behavior was nullied.

Also Wednesday, Bryan Willis, 24, of 161 Township Road 248, Kitts Hill, pleaded guilty both to a bill of information charging him with felonious assault and to an indictment charging him with two counts of theft and one count of receiving stolen property.

Authorities said Willis broke into two area residences in April and May and then took several items from one of the two houses. The list of stolen property included several firearms and a camera. While in jail awaiting the conclusion of his case, Willis attacked another inmate, hence the felonious assault charge.

Walton sentenced Willis to a total of five years in prison on the burglary and receiving stolen property charges and an additional three years in prison on the felonious assault charge.

A Hanging Rock man pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of trafficking in drugs. If Seth May, 33, of 375 Township Road 2971, pays $5,000 in fines before his Sept. 27 sentencing, Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier, Jr., said he will recommend May serve 90 days on home confinement and four years community controlled sanctions. If May does not pay the required amount Collier said he would recommend a sentence of 90 days in jail followed by the four years of sanctions.