Father, son plead in drug trafficking case
Published 9:33 am Sunday, September 28, 2014
A father and son from South Point admitted to selling prescription pills Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.
Larry K. Layman, 64, of 71 Township Road 1034, pleaded guilty to an amended indictment of first-degree aggravated trafficking in drugs. Eight other charges of trafficking and possession of drugs were dismissed as a part of a plea negotiation.
The man was also ordered to surrender more than $41,000 in cash, two vehicle and a handgun, as specified in the indictment as being derived from the sale of drugs or being used in the commission of a crime.
Judge Charles Cooper set sentencing for Oct. 8.
The man’s son, Steven T. Layman, 31, of 97 Township Road 1034, pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree counts of trafficking in drugs, as well as a third-degree count, which was amended from a felony of the second degree.
Cooper set the man’s sentencing for Oct. 15.
The men were arrested March 19 following an investigation by the Lawrence and Drug and Major Crimes Task Force.
In other cases:
• Chester Stamper Jr., 54, of 111 N. Seventh St. Apt. 7, Ironton, pleaded guilty to three fifth-degree counts of possession of drugs. Cooper ordered a presentence investigation set sentencing for Oct. 1.
• Charles Lester, 37, of Route 3 Box 46E, Hurricane, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to a second-degree count of burglary. Cooper set sentencing for Oct. 15.
• Jeffrey Stephenson, 57, of 204 High St., South Point, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree count of using harmful intoxicants (canned air). Coopered ordered a PSI and set sentencing for Oct. 15.
• Charles Cordle, 56, of 601 Gartrell St., Ashland, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree count of possession of drugs. Cooper set sentencing for Oct. 1.
• Zachary Colley, 34, of 346 Haze Hollow Road, Argillite, Kentucky, admitted community control sanctions violations. Cooper sentenced the man to eight months in prison.
• Paul Butler, 44, of 3570 State Route 93, Pedro, pleaded not guilty to a third-degree count of possession of drugs and misdemeanor counts of possession of drugs and possession of marijuana. Cooper set bond at $50,000 cash or surety and set a pretrial for Oct. 8.
• Myria Nikolov, 35, of 113 Ashland Drive Apt. 6, South Point, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to treatment at Mended Reeds.
• Kimberly Fannin, 50, of 122 Jackson Ave., Huntington, who previously pleaded guilty to fifth-degree possession of drugs and misdemeanor theft, was sentenced to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation, 200 hours community service, six months in the county jail suspended, a $1,250 fine and a six-month driver’s license suspension.
• Lori Zundell, 50, of 83 Township Road 1212, Proctorville, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree count of possession of drugs. Judge D. Scott Bowling sentenced the woman to treatment in lieu of conviction. She will be under the supervision of the adult probation department for one year. If she follows the terms of the department, Bowling will find her not guilty of the charge.
• Donald Ball, 84, of 76 Private Drive 2548, Ironton, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree count of possession of drugs and a misdemeanor count of DUI. Bowling ordered a PSI and set sentencing on Oct. 1.
• Sara Niece, 34, of 315 Ridgeway St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree count of trafficking in drugs. Bowling ordered a PSI and set sentencing for Oct. 8.
• Trent Smoot, 36, of 2716 County Road 15, South Point, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree count of DUI. Sentencing was set for Oct. 8.
• Larry Craft Jr., 29, of 1655 Grant St., Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to three fifth-degree counts of complicity to theft. Sentencing was set for Oct. 15.
• Katey Hinton, 32, of 56 County Road 171, Scottown, who previously pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree counts of complicity to trafficking in drugs, was sentenced to four years CCS/ISP, 200 hours community service, $5,000 in fines and a six-month driver’s license suspension.
• Katherine Bumgardner, 31, of 110 N. Jones St., Proctorville, was sentenced to four years CCS/ISP, 200 hours community service and six months at Mended Reeds for a fourth-degree count of theft.
• Jonathan Cole, 36, of448 Township Road 1105, Proctorville, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree count of attempt to disseminate matter harmful to juveniles. Bowling ordered a PSI and set sentencing for Oct. 1.