Drug traffickers, probations violators sent to prison

Published 10:35 am Thursday, May 12, 2016

It was a short docket for the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

In unrelated cases, two defendants were sentenced to prison time for drug trafficking charges.

The first was Jessica Williams, 27, of 1632 Ohio St., Detroit, Michigan. She pleaded guilty to third-degree trafficking in drugs and tampering with evidence in February.

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Judge Charles Cooper continued the woman’s sentence until Wednesday due to her child having surgery. Williams, who tested positive for marijuana during her drug screening, was sentenced to three years in prison, a $5,000 fine and a one-year driver’s license suspension.

Matthew Collins, 20, of 1124 N. Third St. Apt. C, Ironton, was also sentenced to three years in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to a third-degree count of trafficking in drugs. Cooper also suspended the man’s driver’s license for six months.

In other cases, Joshua Fitzpatrick, 21, of 48 County Road 450, South Point, admitted probation violations and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Christopher Heaberlin, 28, of 4415 State Route 93, Ironton, also admitted probation violations and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Bryce Butcher, 20, of 3931 County Road 6, Kitts Hill, pleaded guilty to a third-degree count of aggravated vehicular assault. Cooper sentenced the man to four years community control sanctions and STAR. Butcher was taken to the county jail to away his STAR appointment, as he tested positive for marijuana. If he violates his probation he could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

Matthew Carey, 27, of 6609 County Road 1, South Point, pleaded guilty to a second-degree count of burglary. Cooper set sentencing for June 29.