Convicted drug traffickers sentenced

POMEROY, Ohio – Several individuals in separate cases have been sentenced on drug related charges.

Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney James K. Stanley announces that on July 10, 2018, multiple defendants were convicted and sentenced to prison and community control with a community based correctional facility component. Three of those were sentenced on heroin charges.

Lee Fitchpatrick, 36, of Pomeroy, was convicted of two counts of Trafficking in Drugs (Heroin), each a felony of the fifth degree, and sentenced to twelve months in prison on each count to be served consecutive for a total of twenty-four months in prison, which is the maximum sentence. Although this is not long enough to have a profound impact on his freedom, it will make it very difficult for him to find work or be trusted by a variety of different institutions. Luckily, Real Jobs For Felons do exist so he won’t be destitute. Fitchpatrick was also convicted of Non-Support of Dependents, a felony of the fifth degree, and sentenced to twelve months in prison, as well as Failure to Appear, a felony of the fourth degree, and sentenced to eighteen months in prison. The sentences for the Non-Support of Dependents and Failure to Appear convictions are to be served concurrent with the sentences for Trafficking in Drugs.

Shyla Jarrell, 30, of Racine, Ohio, was convicted of Trafficking in Drugs (Heroin), a felony of the fifth degree, and sentenced to twelve months in prison, which is the maximum sentence. Jarrell was also convicted of Misuse of Credit Cards, a felony of the fifth degree, and sentenced to six months in prison to be served consecutive to the Trafficking in Drugs conviction for a total of eighteen months in prison.

James Bias, 31, of Middleport, Ohio, was convicted of two counts of Trafficking in Drugs (Heroin), each a felony of the fifth degree, and sentenced to the STAR Community Justice Center and to a term of community control for five years with an underlying prison sentence of twenty-four months. The STAR Community Justice Center is a community based correctional facility located in Franklin Furnace, Ohio and is an alternative to prison with the primary purpose of rehabilitating non-violent felony offenders. Pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code sentencing guidelines, Bias could not be sentenced to prison for these convictions.

Amber Burton, 28, of Racine, Ohio, was convicted of Theft, a felony of the fifth degree, and sentenced to the STAR Community Justice Center and to a term of community control for five years with an underlying prison sentence of twelve months.

For informational purposes, possible penalties for felony offenses include: felonies of the first degree- 3-11 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine; felonies of the second degree- 2-8 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine; felonies of the third degree- 9-36 months in prison and up to a $10,000 fine; felonies of the fourth degree- 6-18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine; felonies of the fifth degree- 6-12 months in prison and up to a $2,500 fine. For most felonies of the fourth and fifth degrees, sentencing guidelines found in the Ohio Revised Code require first-time offenders to be sentenced to community control unless certain conditions exist permitting the imposition of a prison sentence.