Brother makes plea in trafficking case
Published 10:13 am Thursday, February 26, 2015
Nearly a month after two brothers were arrested for selling a synthetic stimulant, one has admitted his guilt.
Urian Benicker, 31, of 610 S. 10th St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree count of trafficking in Alpha-PVP Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.
Additional counts of third- and fourth-degree trafficking in drugs were dismissed.
Judge Charles Cooper sentenced the man to one year in prison, a $2,500 fine and a six-month driver’s license suspension.
Benicker was arrested on Jan. 28 by the Ironton Police Department’s drug task force, along with his brother, Brian Benicker, 34, of 5712 State Route 378, Ironton.
Brian was charged and pleaded not guilty to third- and fourth-degree counts of trafficking in Alpha-PVP. His case is still pending.
In an unrelated case, an uncle and nephew also admitted to drug trafficking charges.
Curtis Page, 40, of 2674 Castine Way, Reynoldsburg, pleaded guilty on Monday to a first-degree count of aggravated trafficking in drugs (crack cocaine) and a fifth-degree count of possession of crack cocaine.
Leroy Page III, 28, of 130 S. Chester St., West Jefferson, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to an amended count of second-degree aggravated trafficking in drugs (crack cocaine). A count of possession of crack cocaine was dismissed.
Cooper sentenced each man to five years in prison, a $7,500 fine and a three-year driver’s license suspension.
In other cases:
• Joshua Harless, 31, of 1176 County Road 104, Chesapeake, was arraigned on a bill of information of fifth-degree failure to register, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Cooper set bond at $5,000 cash or surety and $10,000 own-recognizance. A pretrial was set for March 4.
• Christopher Ratliff, 24, of 11607 County Road 14, Waterloo, was arraigned on a fourth-degree count of complicity to burglary, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Bowling set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR and GPS monitoring.
• Craig Hogsten, 44, of 65 Private Drive 954 County Road 52, Ironton, pleaded guilty to a second-degree count of trafficking in Alpha-PVP and a third-degree count of tampering with evidence.
Bowling set sentencing for March 25.
• Christina Anderson, 36, of 2033 State Route 243, pleaded guilty to three fifth-degree counts of possession of drugs. Sentencing was set for March 4.
• Devon Harmon, 36, of 627 S. Seventh St., Ironton, was sentenced to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation for a fifth-degree count of breaking and entering, to which he previously pleaded guilty.
Bowling also sentenced the man to four months of home confinement, $500 restitution and 200 hours of community service.
• Candice McFann, 29, of 181 Township Road 324, Pedro, was sentenced to four years CCS/ISP for a fifth-degree count of trafficking in drugs, to which she previously pleaded no contest. Bowling also ordered the woman to complete the STAR program, pay a $1,250 fine, 200 hours of community service and a six-month driver’s license suspension.
• Charles Lawson, 22, of 8223 Orangeburg Road, Maysville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree count of receiving stolen property. Sentencing was set for March 18.
• Leva Sparks, 34, of 2318 Geswein St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to a fifth- and misdemeanor count theft from McDonald’s. Bowling sentenced the woman to four years CCS/ISP, STAR, $3,262 in restitution and 200 hours of community service.