A man who cut off his electronic monitor so he could evade authorities got a stern lecture from a judge Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Corey Dyer, 20, of Franklin Furnace, was on probation in Ironton Municipal Court and was on electronic monitoring and house arrest. In January, Dyer cut off his ankle monitor, leading to the felony vandalism and escape charges.

Judge D. Scott Bowling sentenced Dyer to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation (CCS/ISP) and ordered him to complete a rehabilitation program at the STAR Community Justice Center.

“My client understands he was ever so close to spending a significant amount of time in prison,” Dyer’s attorney, Chris Delawder, said, adding that Dyer appreciated the opportunity to prove to the court and his family he is capable of changing his life. “I think given the chance he will get his life turned around.”

Andrea Ross, 22, of 1097 County Road 1, South Point, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in powder cocaine. Bowling sentenced Ross to four years CCS/ISP and ordered her to successfully complete a rehabilitation program at the STAR Community Justice Center. He further fined her $1,250 and suspended her driver’s license six months.

“This is my client’s first offense and, as the state is aware, she was not the intended target of the investigation; her boyfriend was her attorney Warren Morford said. This was an abusive relationship. My client has been clean since Feb. 27 when she called her mom and left her boyfriend. She has tried to rehabilitate herself.”

Morford told Bowling that Ross is pregnant. She wants to get her stint at STAR behind her and continue to straighten out her life.

Also Wednesday, Bowling set a Sept. 29 trial date for Wilburn T. Pauley, 48, of 653 County Road 15, South Point. He is charged with breaking and entering and theft from an elderly person.