Coal Grove man arraigned on drug charges
Published 9:35 am Thursday, April 5, 2012
A Coal Grove man answered drug charges Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.
James Edward Curry, Jr., 20, of 107 Bowman St., was arraigned on four counts of third-degree aggravated trafficking in drugs, third-degree complicity to aggravated trafficking in drugs and fourth-degree trafficking in drugs.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mack Anderson said the charges were a result of alleged undercover drug buys.
Curry pleaded not guilty to all charges through his attorney Scott Evans.
Judge Charles Cooper set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and scheduled a pretrial for April 18.
Curry also denied a community-controlled sanctions violation.
In other cases:
• Maria Carter, 41, of 1566 Northridge Road, Columbus, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree charge of endangering children.
According to Anderson, Carter was driving under the influence of drugs while her 9-year-old daughter was in the vehicle with her.
Adult probation officer Teresa Bond reported that Carter, who was out on bond, also tested positive for oxycodon and marijuana before appearing in court Wednesday. Bond said Carter brought her pill bottle with her, which was empty. According to Bond, Carter said her pills were at her home in a safe.
Cooper doubled Carter’s bond to $10,000 cash or surety until sentencing April 18.
Carter was represented by attorney Scott Evans.
• Trevor Williams, 25, of 2402 Monroe Street, pleaded guilty to one count of fifth-degree identify fraud. As part of a plea agreement, an additional charge of fifth-degree possession of drugs was dropped.
Cooper sentenced Williams to six months in prison with credit for time served. Williams was represented by attorney Mike Gleichauf.
• John Knotts, 26, of 8252 State Route 93, Pedro, was arraigned on one count of third-degree aggravated possession of drugs.
Knotts pleaded not guilty through his attorney J.T. Holt.
Cooper set an own recognizance bond and scheduled a pretrial for April 25.
• Andrea Vaughn, 24, of 103 Fourth St. East, Apt 2, South Point, admitted a CCS violation.
Cooper ordered Vaughn to complete the STAR Community Justice Program as a condition of her CCS.