‘Major drug offender’ rejects plea deal

Published 8:43 am Friday, February 28, 2014

A Detroit, Mich., woman allegedly caught trafficking heroin through Lawrence County rejected her final plea offer Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Evelyn M. Robinson, 45, of 14077 Manning St., Detroit, was given an offer of five years in prison for a first-degree count of trafficking in heroin, which carries with it a maximum of 11 years in prison.

As a part of the deal, a charge of first-degree possession of heroin would have been dismissed, as well as the distinction that would classify Robinson as a “major drug offender.”

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Robinson declined the offer through her attorney, Roger Smith.

Judge Charles Cooper set a trial for March 13.

Robinson was pulled over Oct. 19 by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for a moving violation on eastbound U.S. 52. She was subsequently arrested after a canine unit from the Huntington, W.Va., Police Department detected half a pound of heroin hidden behind a tail light of the woman’s Cadillac Escalade.

Troopers estimated the street value of the heroin to be about $45,000.

Robinson has remained in the county jail since her arrest.