Several defendants facing drug charges

Published 9:46 am Thursday, September 27, 2018

Cases heard in common pleas court

Numerous cases were heard in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

• Andrew Branch, 28, of 1123 Third Circle Prospect, Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Judge Andy Ballard ordered him to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and 200 hours community service.

• Reggie Crance, 28, of 17797 State Route 93, Pedro, pleaded not guilty to identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $1,000 cash or surety and $15,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Oct. 17.

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• Holly Gonzalez, 41, of 2510 Greenbo Drive, Flatwoods, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony. In another case, she admitted community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Ballard sentenced her to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation (ISP) with 22 months reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR and 224 hours community service.

• Zachary Holbrook, 27, of 2008 Township Road 228, Proctorville, admitted CCS violations. Ballard continued his CCS with 17 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR, 200 hours community service and pay $150 in restitution.

• Edward Holsinger, 48, of 1119 S. Third St., Ironton, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (hydrocodone), also a felony of the fifth-degree. He rejected the state’s final offer of nine months in prison, and is facing a maximum of two years behind bars if found guilty at trial. Ballard set trial for Nov. 1.

• Carl Johnson, 57, of 614 Hecla St., Ironton, pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a fourth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 17 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR, 200 hours community service and pay court costs.

• Paul Rockel, 33, of 711 Etna St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, possession of drug abuse instruments, a second-degree misdemeanor, and falsification, a first-degree misdemeanor. Ballard set bond at $15,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Oct. 10.

• Robert Stevens, 32, of 315 Ridgeway St., Coal Grove, previously pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. In another case, he pleaded not guilty to failure to appear, a felony of the fourth-degree. Trial is set for Nov. 8-9.

• Mason Thacker, 31, of 4429 State Route 93, Ironton, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. In another case, he pleaded guilty to failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs (oxycodone hydrochloride), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 22 months reserved, and ordered him to complete STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Nancy Walker, 38, of 1807 Ellen Drive, Flatwoods, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set sentencing for Nov. 21, and ordered her to pay $1,347 in restitution.

• Melissa LeGrand, 42, of 881 Township Road 204, Willow Wood, pleaded not guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs (heroin), both fourth-degree felonies. In another case, she denied CCS violations. Ballard set bond at $15,000 OR and placed her on GPS home confinement. Pretrial and CCS trial were set for Oct. 10.

• Emory Markel, 38, of 2739 S. Eighth St., Ironton, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR and placed her on GPS home confinement. Pretrial was set for Oct. 10.

• Anthony Biggs, 26, listed as homeless, South Point, pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $1,000 cash or surety and $20,000 OR. Pretrial was set for Oct. 10.

• Eugene Likens, 34, listed as homeless, South Point, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in heroin and trafficking in drugs (Suboxone), all fifth-degree felonies. Ballard set bond at $25,000 OR and placed him on GPS home confinement. Pretrial was set for Oct. 24.

• Christene Beasley, 36, of 624 10th St., Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. Judge Charles Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with three years reserved, and ordered her to complete STAR.

• Chad Coleman, 32, of 617 Trenton Place, Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine) and aggravated possession of heroin, both fifth-degree felonies. Cooper set bond at $10,000 OR and placed him on GPS home confinement. Pretrial was set for Oct. 17.

• Pamela Criswell, 38, of 5942 Lake Bonita Road, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of heroin and aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), both fifth-degree felonies. Cooper set bond at $1,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for Oct. 17.

• Jerry Frye, 58, of 510 Jerie Court, Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drugs (oxycodone), also a felony of the fifth-degree. Cooper set bond at $25,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for Oct. 24.

• Ronald Harmon Jr., 34, of 1173 County Road 1, Lot 8, South Point, pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence, both fourth-degree felonies, and disrupting public services, also a felony of the fourth-degree. Cooper set sentencing for Oct. 3.

• Christopher Ratliff, 28, of 1648 State Route 503, Wurtland, Kentucky, denied CCS  violations. Cooper set CCS trial for Oct. 10.

• Brandon Rice, 32, of 1500 Violet Ave., Killeen Bell, Texas, pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. Cooper set bond at $10,000 cash or surety. Pretrial was set for Oct. 17.

• Joselyn Rose, 28, of 620 Willis St., Grayson, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), both fifth-degree felonies. Cooper sentenced her to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved.

• Danny Spurlock, 26, of 15145 Amber Lane, State Route 3, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and possession of drugs (methamphetamine), both fifth-degree felonies. Cooper sentenced him to four years CCS under ISP with 11 months reserved, and ordered him to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and 200 hours community service.

• Jesse Lee Walker, 19, of 1411 County Road 181, Ironton, pleaded guilty to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. In another case, he also admitted CCS violations. He was sentenced to three years in prison.