Judge hears variety of cases

Published 9:04 am Thursday, September 13, 2012

From drug trafficking to tampering with evidence, Lawrence County Common Pleas Court heard an array of cases Wednesday.

Gala Roach, 24, of 1017 S. Eighth St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to a count of fourth-degree trafficking in cocaine.

Judge Charles Cooper sentenced the woman to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation (CCS/ISP). Roach must also complete a treatment program at the STAR Community Justice Center, pay a $7,500 fine and her court costs, and her driver’s license will be suspended for one year.

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Roach will remain on house arrest until her STAR appointment begins. Roach was represented by attorney John Kehoe.

Rebecca Hogsten, 37, of 87 Township Road 343, Ironton, was arraigned on one count of third-degree tampering with evidence. Hogsten pleaded not guilty through her attorney Scott Evans.

Cooper set a $25,000 own recognizance bond with GPS monitoring and home confinement. Cooper scheduled a pretrial for Oct. 3.

Bradley Vuker, 31, of 7788 Keavy Road, London, Ky., was arraigned on a bill of information of tampering with evidence, possession of drugs (oxycodone) and possession of a drug abuse instrument. Vuker pleaded not guilty through his attorney Warren Morford.

Cooper continued bond from a lower court and added a $10,000 OR bond. A pretrial was set for Oct. 3.

Matthew Lindsey, 22, of 56 Township Road 1057, Proctorville, admitted a CCS violation and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Paul Waginger, 24, of 486 Pittfield Drive, Worthington, Ky., pleaded guilty to one count of fifth-degree breaking and entering.

Cooper set sentencing for Sept. 19.

Joseph Stevens, 35, of 3008 Rear Apartment, Huntington, W.Va., tested positive for cocaine at his pretrial drug screening.

Cooper increased bond to $7,500 and set a pretrial for Sept. 19.

Stevens’ attorney, Mike Gleichauf, resigned from the case and Cooper said he would appoint another lawyer.