Peebles man sentenced to 4 years in prison in Highland County drug case

A Peebles man was sentenced to four years in prison recently after pleading guilty to drug-related charges in Highland County.

James E. Jones, 60, of Peebles was indicted in September on one count each of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, both second-degree felonies; and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

The indictment alleged that on or about March 17, 2022, Jones “did knowingly prepare for shipment, ship, transport, deliver, prepare for distribution or distribute” — and “did knowingly obtain, possess or use” — methamphetamine in an amount equal to or exceeding five times bulk amount but less than 50 times bulk amount. He was also accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using” cocaine on the same date.

According to court records, Jones pleaded guilty July 19 to the cocaine possession charge as well as an amended count of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, lowered from a second-degree to a third-degree felony. The meth possession charge was dismissed.

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Jones to a definite determinate term of 48 months in prison — three years in prison for the meth trafficking charge and one year in prison for cocaine possession — with jail time credit of 42 days.

Jones was admitted into the Correctional Reception Center in Orient on July 21, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.