Thursday, November 9th, 2006
Area residents have day in court
By Shelley Grieshop
Several area residents were sentenced to prison and others pleaded to charges stemming from drug busts held earlier this year in both Mercer and Auglaize counties.
The drug arrests were part of an ongoing crackdown by the Grand Lake Drug Task Force on the sale and use of illegal drugs.
• Michael E. Bayman, 54, 401 S. Pear St., St. Marys, was sentenced recently to a total of 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a nonspecific drug and heroin, fifth-degree felonies.
Specially assigned Judge Mark Spees sentenced Bayman to a 10- and an 8-month prison sentence to run consecutively. He also ordered Bayman to pay $3,000 in fines, suspended his operator's license for five years and ordered him to pay all court costs.
Two other drug-related charges including cocaine possession were dismissed in a plea negotiation.
• Karen Fox, 39, 420 S. Herman St., New Bremen, was sentenced to a total of 30 months in prison after pleading guilty Oct. 30 to two counts of trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony.
She was sentenced to 12- and 18-month prison terms on each count to run consecutively. Fox also was ordered to pay a $500 fine, restitution and costs and was issued a five-year operator's license suspension. Common Pleas Court Judge Frederick Pepple gave her 38 days jail time credit for time served.
Two other counts of drug trafficking were dismissed in a plea bargain.
• Damian King, 27, 34 Canal St., New Bremen, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $280 in restitution after pleading guilty to drug trafficking, a fourth-degree felony. Pepple also ordered a five-year operator's license suspension for King.
Two other drug trafficking charges were dismissed in an agreement between his attorney and the prosecutor.
Other Grand Lake residents have offered guilty pleas to drug-related charges and are awaiting sentencing:
• Robert L. Lowe III, 32, 1400 W. Market St., lot 47, Celina, pleaded guilty Oct. 31 to drug trafficking and the sale of a dangerous drug, both fourth-degree felonies. Three counts of drug trafficking were dismissed in a plea bargain.
Lowe also pleaded guilty recently to a charge of failing to appear for an Oct. 3 hearing. A sentence hearing is set for Dec. 18 on all charges.
• Timothy Hagen, 21, 309 W. Fayette St., Celina, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, a fourth- and a fifth-degree felony. Two other counts of drug trafficking were dismissed in a negotiated plea.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 5.
• Thomas Ray Charles Henline, 28, 406 Water St., St. Marys, pleaded guilty to three counts of drug trafficking, a fifth-degree felony. Two other counts of drug trafficking were dismissed in a plea bargain.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 13.
• Larissa Jenkins, 26, 512 Locust St., St. Marys, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, a fourth- and fifth-degree felony. Three other counts were dismissed in negotiations.
A sentence hearing is set for Dec. 18.
