A Hillsboro woman entered a plea agreement Friday in the Hillsboro Municipal Court on charges of child endangerment and permitting drug abuse.
According to an affidavit filed with the court, Debra Greene, 64, was charged last month after the Hillsboro Police Department served a search warrant on a Fair Street residence. The warrant concerned “drug trafficking and a large amount of marijuana said to be on the property,” the affidavit stated.
The officer reported that during the search two large bags of marijuana were located behind the residence. Greene, identified as the homeowner, allegedly “admitted she knew it was there and acknowledged that it was marijuana,” the affidavit stated.
Also according to the affidavit, Greene “acknowledged that subjects have been selling marijuana from her home.”
A 16-year old relative was in the residence at the time of the search warrant, the officer reported. The juvenile reportedly said another juvenile had sold drugs in the home and that Green had known about it.
Also, according to the affidavit, there was “an extreme amount of insects in all areas of the home.” Children Services was contacted and the juvenile was removed from the residence.
On Friday, Greene pled guilty to first-degree misdemeanor child endangerment. The drug abuse charge was dismissed.
Defense attorney Lee Koogler said Greene has “worked very hard to clean up the conditions of the home.” He added that the defense disagreed with the drug abuse charge, which contributed to that case being dismissed.
A 90-day jail sentence was suspended on the condition that the contraband be forfeited and that Greene comply with Children Services. She must pay $100 of a $500 fine.
In other cases, Charles Wiechert III, 29, Leesburg, entered an agreement on a charge of second-degree misdemeanor criminal damaging. He pled guilty to an amended and reduced charge of fourth-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
In reviewing his record, Municipal Court Acting Judge Jeffrey Lyle said Wiechert has “a number of cases here,” including “somewhere in the neighborhood of 270 days” previously suspended. He added that Wiechert’s record was about four inches thick.
Wiechert said that personal issues have led to alcohol use. “I just have to figure out how to get it under control,” he said.
A 30-day jail sentence was suspended on the condition that Wiechert continue and complete counseling. He must pay $100 of a $250 fine.
Thirty-six days of jail time credit were applied to his probation violations. Wiechert’s probation was extended for two years, according to records.
Also on Friday:
• John Ralston, 47, Greenfield, appeared after allegedly failing a drug screen. He told the court that he has a case pending in Highland County Common Pleas Court. According to common pleas court records, Ralston is set for a jury trial next week. He faces a total of five charges for possession of heroin and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, as well as three counts of receiving stolen property. Municipal court records add that Ralston is currently on electronic monitoring house arrest through the common pleas court. On Friday, he was released from jail.
• Aaron Taylor, 34, Winchester, pled guilty to second-degree misdemeanor resisting arrest. An accompanying charge for obstructing official business was dismissed. A 90-day jail sentence was suspended on the condition that he continue counseling. Taylor was placed on reporting probation and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. He must pay $500 of $750 fine.
• Jack Little Jr., 38, Hillsboro, entered an agreement and pled guilty to fourth-degree misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and to an unclassified misdemeanor driving on a suspension. An additional charge of driving on suspension was dismissed. All but 23 days of a 30-day jail sentence were suspended. He was given credit for seven days. Little was released from jail on Friday. He must pay a total of $350 in fines, obtain counseling, and perform 40 hours of community service. The paraphernalia must be forfeited. His license was suspended for six months.
• Olivia Hayslip, 31, Hillsboro, entered an agreement on first-degree misdemeanor OVI. She pled guilty to an amended and reduced charge of fourth-degree misdemeanor reckless operation. An accompanying charge for traveling left of center was dismissed. All but 27 days of a 30-day jail sentence were suspended. Hayslip will be given credit for her time in a three-day driver intervention program. She was fined $250.
• Stephen Carter Jr., 30, Hillsboro, entered an agreement and pled guilty to fourth-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct, which was amended and reduced from resisting arrest. A minor misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge was dismissed. Twenty-nine days of a 30-day jail sentence were suspended. Carter was given one day of jail time credit. He must pay a $250 fine and perform 40 hours of community service.
• As per an agreement, Victoria Powers, 46, Hillsboro, pled guilty to minor misdemeanor reckless operation on a roadway. A charge of first-degree misdemeanor physical control was dismissed. She must pay a $150 fine and complete counseling.
• A November court trial was scheduled for Ashley Lewis, 19, Lynchburg. She is charged with first-degree misdemeanor theft.
Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.
