A Rocky Fork Lake area man appearing in the Hillsboro Municipal Court on Thursday waived what is now his second heroin-related felony charge to a grand jury.
The Times-Gazette previously reported that Robert W. Sions, 58, Hillsboro, was charged with second-degree felony possession of heroin earlier this year after a traffic stop by the Highland County Sheriff’s Office yielded suspected drugs. He previously waived his preliminary hearing in that case.
Sions later posted a $10,000 bond and was placed under house arrest, which – according to an agreement – was not electronic monitoring.
Sions was then arrested earlier this month when he was again stopped by an HCSO deputy. Heroin was allegedly found at that time, and Sions was charged with a fifth-degree felony.
On Thursday, Sions waived his right to a preliminary hearing on fifth-degree felony for drug abuse, according to court records.
That charge, as well as a turn signal violation, will both go before a grand jury. His pending traffic charges from the May traffic stop were dismissed.
A court trial is set on a fourth-degree misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia. That charge also resulted from the May traffic stop. The trial is scheduled for next month.
Records add that Sions’ bond is set at $70,000. If he posts that bond, he will be on electronic monitoring house arrest.
Also on Friday, Heather Miles, 35, Hillsboro, pled guilty to first-degree misdemeanor theft.
Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David H. McKenna said that this was not Miles’ first theft offense. He added that she was previously sentenced on a felony for possession of drugs.
When asked about the incident, Miles said she had been stealing hygiene items. “I need to budget my money better,” she added.
“You need to stop stealing … and breaking the law in general,” the judge said.
Miles told the court that she would pass a drug screen.
All but five days of a 90-day jail sentence were suspended. She can be furloughed on Friday with a negative drug screen.
Miles was placed on reporting probation. She was ordered to stay away from Walmart and to perform 40 hours of community service.
Also appearing for an arraignment was Steven Keim, 50, Lynchburg. He is charged with second-degree misdemeanor obstructing official business.
The judge said if Keim is convicted he could be in violation of past convictions, including an assault case that had involved an officer and was reduced from felony.
McKenna said Keim was previously found in violation of a resisting arrest conviction from 2013 when he pled guilty to operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) earlier this year. Sentencing was deferred in that case until September, according to records.
The judge also said that Keim was under a specific order to possess no alcohol and that in a sworn statement concerning his new charge, Keim was allegedly “in possession of alcohol again.”
Keim pled not guilty to obstructing official business. He will be held in custody until he can be placed on electronic monitoring house arrest.
Devon Lansing, 23, Wilmington, appeared on a bench warrant that was issued after he failed to appear in court and after he failed to report to the probation department, according to McKenna.
When Lansing was last court, he was ordered to serve 72 days on a probation violation from last June. The judge added that Lansing was first found guilty of theft in 2013. A 180-day jail sentence was suspended consecutive to other previous sentences.
McKenna said other warrants have been issued on Lansing’s theft case and that jail time has been imposed and furloughed. He added that Lansing tried inpatient treatment at both the Salvation Army and the Refuge.
After reviewing his record, McKenna said that Lansing has 40 days left to serve on his probation violations.
Lansing said he was employed and that he had spoken with the probation department about complications with reporting and his work schedule. “They seemed to be ok with it,” he said.
The judge said, “I’ll take that as a denial (of a violation).”
A probation violation hearing is set for Aug. 17. Lansing’s bond is set at $7,500 or $750 in cash.
A bond was also set for Melissa Brunner, 34, Hillsboro. She is charged with obstructing official business; operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI), a first-degree misdemeanor; and driving on a suspension, an unclassified misdemeanor.
She pled not guilty, and her bond was set at $2,500. While her case is pending, she is prohibited from driving and must observe a curfew. A pretrial is set for Aug. 14.
In other cases, Jamison Doyal, 40, Hillsboro, entered a plea agreement on nine counts of second-degree misdemeanor attempting to purchase an illegal amount of pseudoephedrine.
He pled guilty to three of the charges, and the remaining six were dismissed. The state recommended a suspended sentence on the condition that he obtain an assessment and any recommended counseling at FRS.
Ninety-day jail sentences were suspended on each charge. Doyal received credit for 27 days in jail. A total of 243 days are suspended.
Doyal must have no contact with Walmart “except to obtain (a) phone card,” according to records. He must perform 50 hours of community on “each of these (three) counts,” the judge said.
A $750 fine was also suspended on each count.
Finally, Wade Page, 43, Peebles, appeared for a deferred sentencing on a charge of OVI. He previously pled guilty, and sentencing was put off to give him time to complete a three-day driver intervention program.
On Thursday, defense attorney Bill Armintrout said Page had been compliant with that condition. As such, the state agreed to treat the charge as a first offense.
Eighty-seven days of a 90-day jail sentence were suspended. Page was given credit for his time in the program. He was ordered to follow up on recommended counseling and to pay a $550 fine.
Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.
