Violator gets prison for skipping probation officer visits

Published 10:04 am Monday, April 9, 2012

 

A Coal Grove man who did not report to his probation officer will now instead report to prison.

William Bryant, 29, of 612 Pike St., was found guilty Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court of violating his probation, also known as community control sanctions.

Email newsletter signup

Adult Probation Officer Carl Bowen II said Bryant failed to report to his probation officer as he was required to do when he was placed on probation. Bowen said Bryant had not shown up for any appointments in his office since April 2011.

Bryant was also accused of having new charges filed against him in Marion County and in Lawrence County. The Marion County charges were later dismissed. Authorities also contend Bryant still owes court costs.

Bryant contended he did not have transportation from Frankfort, Ky., where he had been living, to get to the Lawrence County Courthouse to report. He also contended he had reported in May of 2011 and again in October 2011 and had called once in between then and talked to a probation officer.

Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson had asked that Bryant be sent to prison for 2 years and four months.

But Bryant’s attorney, Mike Davenport, argued Bryant should not go to prison but rather have his probation extended.

“He understands now a phone call is not sufficient. He understands he needs to report twice a month and he can get here now,” Davenport said.

“I’d like another chance to prove myself,” Bryant told Bowling. “I’d like to go back to school. I plan on doing that. I don’t see how prison would help me, I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

Bowling sentenced Bryant to one year in prison with no credit for time served in jail awaiting resolution of his case.

Bryant was on probation after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to theft of a firearm. He was sent to prison but granted judicial release after five months and placed on probation.

Also, Ronald Patrick, 46, of 257 Township Road 616 South Point, was arraigned on three counts of trafficking in drugs (oxycodone).

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, J.T. Holt. Bowling set a $50,000 surety or property bond and added a $50,000 own recognizance (OR) bond to it. Patrick must return to court this week for a pretrial conference.

Trent Finley, 25, 229 Township Road 1301 Chesapeake, was arraigned on one felony count of theft and one misdemeanor count of theft.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, John Kehoe. Bowling allowed a $2,500 bond posted in municipal court to continue and added a $20,000 OR bond to it. Finley must return to court April 18 for a pretrial conference.

Larry Chinn, 54, 94 Private Drive 954, Ironton, pleaded guilty on a bill of information to breaking and entering and contributing to the unruliness of a minor. Bowling sentenced him to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation (CCS/ISP) and ordered him to successfully complete a rehabilitation program at the STAR Community Justice Center and 200 hours of community Service.