Man facing heroin felony back in court

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A Rocky Fork Lake area man who waived a felony heroin case to a grand jury in May appeared again in the Hillsboro Municipal Court on a separate heroin charge.

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.

When he was last in court, the state agreed to lower Sions’ bond to $10,000 in exchange for the waiver of his preliminary hearing. If he posted that bond, Sions would be under house arrest, which – as per the agreement – would not be electronic monitoring.

Also at that time, misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding, and traveling left of center were all continued.

Municipal court records show that Sions posted his $10,000 bond. His felony case was bound over to a grand jury. According to Highland County Common Pleas Court records, he has not yet been indicted.

An affidavit filed with the municipal court states that Sions was arrested on Thursday.

Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera said that a Highland County Sheriff’s Office deputy reported that he was on patrol when he noticed a blue 2003 Chevy Cavalier turn from Hickory Trail onto Fernwood Trail without using a turn signal. He iniated a traffic stop.

According to the deputy’s affidavit, Sions pulled into a driveway, and two males and one female exited the residence. The female reportedly told the deputy that she saw Sions “throw something from the vehicle,” the affidavit stated.

The deputy reported that he then “located a small, clear plastic bag on the ground next to (Sions’) vehicle that was not on the ground next to the vehicle during (his) initial contact with (Sions),” according to the affidavit.

When asked about the bag, Sions allegedly “replied he did not know what (the deputy) was talking about,” the affidavit stated.

The deputy added that a hard, brown substance was found in the bag. It reportedly field-tested positive for heroin.

Sions was placed under arrest. According to the affidavit, the female and one of the males each wrote a voluntary statement. The male reportedly said that Sions “was there to sell him $60 worth of heroin,” the affidavit added.

On Friday, Sions appeared in the municipal court on a fifth-degree felony drug abuse charge. He is also charged with a turn signal violation.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 30. Pretrials on all of his pending misdemeanor cases are also set for that time.

Sions’ bond is set at $70,000. If he posts that bond, he will be on electronic monitoring house arrest.

He is ordered to have no contact with the three individuals who were reportedly at the scene. Sions must also report to the probation department if he is released.

In other cases, a Highland woman, who – according to Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David H. McKenna — has been to prison three times, entered an agreement on a charge of first-degree misdemeanor drug abuse.

Deborah Jenkins, 45, pled guilty to the charge, and the state recommended a suspended sentence on the condition that she get an assessment and recommended counseling at FRS.

She told the court, “I know I’m an addict, and I know I need to get into counseling and get better.”

An affidavit filed with the court states that she was charged after the life squad reported a possible overdose to the sheriff’s office. Medical records reported that Jenkins had tested positive for opiates.

A 180-day jail sentence was suspended on the recommendation of the state. A $1,000 fine was also suspended. Jenkins was placed on reporting probation. She must obtain counseling.

This case was also a probation violation of a past domestic violence conviction. As such, 166 days in jail that were previously suspended were scheduled for August. Jenkins was given credit for 36 days.

She was released from custody on Friday.

Finally, Gary Branson W. Watson, 22, Greenfield, appeared on a bench warrant. Records show that the warrant was issued last month after Watson failed to appear for a review hearing.

He was convicted of first-degree misdemeanor theft last June, records show. At that time, a 180-day jail sentence and a $500 fine were both suspended.

Watson was placed on reporting probation and ordered to perform 60 hours of community service. Records add that he could substitute a GED for 40 hours of service.

Watson said on Friday that the community service was complete.

McKenna asked Watson about the red shirt he was wearing, which denotes felony charges for those who are in custody.

Watson then said that he was under indictment. Common pleas records show that he was indicted on third-degree felony gross sexual imposition. Jail records show that his bond is set at $25,000.

A probation violation hearing on Watson’s misdemeanor case is set for Aug. 3.

Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.

Sions
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2015/07/web1_RobertSions1.jpgSions
Woman with drug history enters agreement on heroin charge

By Sarah Allen

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