Sentencing set for July 31

 

A man accused of selling stolen items at the Proctorville Flea Market pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Jeffrey Jones, 50, of 155 Township Road 1280, Proctorville, pleaded to four counts of fifth-degree receiving stolen property. Five other counts of the same charge were dismissed, as well as a count of second-degree engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Jones will be sentenced July 31 in Judge D. Scott Bowling’s courtroom.

Jones, a co-owner of the flea market, was arrested in August 2012 following a raid at the business.

The Lawrence Drug and Major Crimes Task Force conducted an investigation which found Jones had purchased items that other individuals had stolen from area Walgreens, CVS and Rite-Aid stores and then resold them at the flea market.

Investigators believed there has been a group of individuals who has been shoplifting over-the-counter medications and exchanging them for cash which would be used to purchase illegal drugs.

In addition to the Lawrence Drug and Major Crimes Task Force, other agencies that helped in the investigation were the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Ironton Police Department, the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, Huntington West Virginia Police and investigators from Walgreens, CVS and Rite-Aid.

In other cases:

• Aaron Pack, 24, of 1144 Mead McNeer Road, Wheelersburg, pleaded guilty to counts of first-degree aggravated robbery, second-degree kidnapping and third-degree tampering with evidence.

The man will be sentenced May 22 in Judge Charles Cooper’s courtroom.

Pack was arrested in November in Scioto County following robberies at several gas stations.

The man admitted to robbing a BP stations in Franklin Furnace and Kentucky, as well as Hop’s Carryout in Hanging Rock.

Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson said Pack forced the attendant of Hop’s, who was outside taking out the trash, back into the store at gunpoint.

• Paul Brown, 37, of 11 Township Road 143 South Point, admitted to community control sanctions violations. Bowling sentenced the man to 16 months in prison.

• Billy Richardson, 31, of 1530 Fifth St., Portsmouth, admitted CCS violations. Bowling sentenced the man to six months in prison with a judicial release to the STAR Community Justice Center when a bed becomes available, and 200 hours of community service.

• Kayla McDonald, 23, of 8405 Count Road 1, Apt. 1, South Point, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to six months in prison.

• Lena Mallar, 27, of 2109 N. Third St., Ironton, was arraigned on a bill of information of third-degree theft of a firearm.

Mallar pleaded not guilty and waived her right to a speedy trial. Bowling continued bond from a lower court and added a $20,000 own-recognizance bond.

• Debbra Ostby, 24, of 9641 County Road 4, Pedro, pleaded guilty to counts of fifth-degree forgery and theft. Bowling sentenced the woman to four years CCS under intensive supervise probation and $560 restitution.

• David Woodyard III, 19, of 213 Township Road 1163 Proctorville, admitted CCS violations. Cooper sentenced the man to 90 day in the county jail.