Teen going to prison over role in drug ring
Published 10:41 pm Saturday, August 15, 2009
At a time when most 18-year-old women go off to college, get a job or even get married, one Proctorville woman was sent away Wednesday to prison for four years to no doubt contemplate the effects of drugs on her life and on the lives of people around her.
Samantha Horn, of 134 Private Drive 53, pleaded guilty in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court to charges of possession of crack cocaine, possession of powder cocaine and possession of heroin as well as possession of criminal tools. In exchange for her guilty plea to those charges, three counts of drug trafficking were dismissed.
Horn was one of several people arrested in a federal, state and local drug roundup in the Proctorville area in late June. As part of her agreement with authorities, Horn must testify truthfully against her co-defendants, one of whom was or is her boyfriend, Jason Belcher, whose drug case is pending in common pleas court.
“Eighteen years old,” Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., said, shaking his head as the petite brunette, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, was led into court by constables. “She’s just a pup.”
When authorities arrested Horn and Belcher they searched the couple’s residence and confiscated 130 grams of powder cocaine, 46 grams of crack cocaine, 90 grams on uncut heroin, four ecstacy tablets, various other prescription medications, drug paraphernalia, two guns and $6,800 in cash. The street value of the drugs is approximately $60,000.
In another drug case Wednesday, Robert E. Jarrett Jr., 37, of Huntington, W.Va., pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. Judge Charles Cooper sentenced him to seven months in prison and ordered him to surrender his driver’s license for six months.
“I’m sorry for what I done,” Jarrett said. “I’m sorry for causing these problems. I apologize.”
Cooper granted a brief furlough to allow Jarrett to arrange for the care of his one-and-a-half-year- old son.
Also, Ronald Hundley, 44, of Eden, N.C., pleaded guilty to one count of resisting arrest. In exchange for his guilty plea, a charge of intimidation of a police officer was dismissed.
Cooper sentenced him to 90 days in jail, with 72 days suspended, and fined him $500. Hundley was also placed on two years probation.
Jeremy Jenkins, 23, of 406 Pike St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempt to commit felonious assault. Cooper sentenced him to four years in prison. With good behavior, Jenkins may be released after six months if he is accepted into a rehabilitation program at the STAR Community Justice Center.
“When the request is made (for judicial release) I will have sent to me by the warden of the institution a report of your conduct and it will be critical to me in granting judicial release,” Cooper told Jenkins. “Your future is in your hands.”
Robert Helms, 41, of 69 Township Road 1026, South Point, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to provide notice of change of address to authorities. As a convicted sex offender, he is required to report his changes of address to the sheriff’s office.
Cooper sentenced him to 60 days in jail and placed him on four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation (CCS/ISP). Cooper further ordered Helms to register as a Tier 3 sex offender.