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Hillsboro woman gets 59 months in drug trafficking, possession case

By
Caitlin Forsha, The Highland County Press

A Hillsboro woman was sentenced Wednesday to nearly five years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple drug-related charges.

As previously reported, Kassie Brigner, 27, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in January on 12 counts, including: engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, all first-degree felonies; aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both third-degree felonies; receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony; two counts of possession of cocaine and one count each of aggravated possession of methamphetamine and aggravated possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all fifth-degree felonies; receiving stolen property, a first-degree misdemeanor; having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony; and a forfeiture specification.

According to court records, Brigner pleaded guilty March 28 to five counts: aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony; one count each of possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of methamphetamine and aggravated possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all fifth-degree felonies; and the forfeiture specification. The remaining eight charges were dismissed.

During a sentencing hearing held May 3 in Highland County Common Pleas Court, Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Brigner to a definite determinate term of 59 months in prison, with jail time credit of 158 days. She was also ordered to pay restitution and court costs.

The Highland County Sheriff’s Office previously reported on the investigation against Brigner and her co-defendant, Richard Johnson, in July 2022. On July 12, Highland County Sheriff’s Office detectives and deputies, along with the Highland County Prosecutor’s Task Force and the Greenfield Police Department, executed a search warrant on Butters Road.

Inside a mobile home, detectives located an alleged large amount of methamphetamine and several firearms. Also located on the property were several allegedly stolen items, including a pickup truck that had been reported stolen from Pike County and a side-by-side UTV reported stolen from Highland County. Johnson and Brigner were both arrested at the scene.

The case against Johnson is still pending.