Defendants sentenced in pattern of corrupt activity case
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Two defendants from an April drug bust in the Greenfield area were sentenced to prison time Wednesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court, and the state requested to withdraw a plea agreement regarding another defendant in the case.
Richard Rickman, Joseph Cowman and Melinda Steward all appeared for sentencing Wednesday. Rickman, Cowman and Steward were arrested in April along with six others, mostly in the Greenfield area, during a drug bust after a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment. There were a total of 153 indictments involving real estate, vehicles, cash and other assets connected to the alleged activity. The indictments were the result of several months of investigation by detectives with the HCSO, U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, GPD and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office into concerns of cocaine and heroin trafficking in Highland County and the surrounding area.
Rodger Cassell, Jeffrey Stevens and Zachary Bondurant are still facing trial on the charges, while the other defendants have entered into plea agreements. They are scheduled for a jury trial Aug. 15.
On June 8, Richard Rickman pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs. He had been arrested in April following an investigation by the Highland County Sheriff's Office into organized drug trafficking in Highland County
Rickman had originally been indicted on 11 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
When he appeared for sentencing Wednesday, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the court that the state wished to withdraw the plea agreement because Rickman "has not upheld his part of the plea agreement at all."
Koogler asked for time to confer with his client and the prosecutor, and the court recessed for a time. When the court reconvened, Collins said there was a joint request to continue sentencing so that Koogler would have time to confer with the Highland County Sheriff's Office, which Coss approved.
Joseph Cowman pleaded guilty on June 8 to two counts of trafficking drugs in a school zone, felonies of the fourth degree. He had originally been indicted on engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and 12 other charges, including trafficking drugs in a school zone and possession of drugs.
On Wednesday, his attorney, Conrad Curren, asked that the court take into consideration the poor health of the defendant, who has suffered a stroke, heart problems and other issues and moves with the assistance of a walker.
Cowman addressed the court, saying, "I'm sorry. I can't take it back. I wish it had never happened."
Curren asked that the court sentence him to less than the three years recommended by the state because, "He had a myriad of health problems. I doubt he would survive three years."
Coss said that many of Cowman's health problems could probably be attributed to the kind of life he chose to lead, which included the drug activity. Coss sentenced him to 12 months on each of the drug charges and seven months on a separate probation violation conviction, for a total of 31 months, to be served consecutively to each other.
Melinda Steward appeared for sentencing following pleading guilty in June to tampering with evidence and possession of drugs, felonies of the third degree. She had initially been indicted on eight charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale.
Steward's attorney, Susan Zurface Daniels, said Wednesday that the 29-year-old defendant had started using drugs within the year and did not have a long-term presence in her life.
The state recommended two years in prison, which was the minimum sentence allowed.
"I don't know what went wrong," Steward said. "I'm sorry. I want to change, to turn my life around."
Coss said that he felt the minimum sentence was appropriate because Steward had no prior criminal record, and sentenced her to two years in prison. She was also ordered to forfeit $1,800 that was seized during her arrest, along with some jewelry and a 2002 Pontiac.
Two defendants from an April drug bust in the Greenfield area were sentenced to prison time Wednesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court, and the state requested to withdraw a plea agreement regarding another defendant in the case.
Richard Rickman, Joseph Cowman and Melinda Steward all appeared for sentencing Wednesday. Rickman, Cowman and Steward were arrested in April along with six others, mostly in the Greenfield area, during a drug bust after a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court handed down a 62-count indictment. There were a total of 153 indictments involving real estate, vehicles, cash and other assets connected to the alleged activity. The indictments were the result of several months of investigation by detectives with the HCSO, U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, GPD and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office into concerns of cocaine and heroin trafficking in Highland County and the surrounding area.
Rodger Cassell, Jeffrey Stevens and Zachary Bondurant are still facing trial on the charges, while the other defendants have entered into plea agreements. They are scheduled for a jury trial Aug. 15.
On June 8, Richard Rickman pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs. He had been arrested in April following an investigation by the Highland County Sheriff's Office into organized drug trafficking in Highland County
Rickman had originally been indicted on 11 charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
When he appeared for sentencing Wednesday, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told the court that the state wished to withdraw the plea agreement because Rickman "has not upheld his part of the plea agreement at all."
Koogler asked for time to confer with his client and the prosecutor, and the court recessed for a time. When the court reconvened, Collins said there was a joint request to continue sentencing so that Koogler would have time to confer with the Highland County Sheriff's Office, which Coss approved.
Joseph Cowman pleaded guilty on June 8 to two counts of trafficking drugs in a school zone, felonies of the fourth degree. He had originally been indicted on engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and 12 other charges, including trafficking drugs in a school zone and possession of drugs.
On Wednesday, his attorney, Conrad Curren, asked that the court take into consideration the poor health of the defendant, who has suffered a stroke, heart problems and other issues and moves with the assistance of a walker.
Cowman addressed the court, saying, "I'm sorry. I can't take it back. I wish it had never happened."
Curren asked that the court sentence him to less than the three years recommended by the state because, "He had a myriad of health problems. I doubt he would survive three years."
Coss said that many of Cowman's health problems could probably be attributed to the kind of life he chose to lead, which included the drug activity. Coss sentenced him to 12 months on each of the drug charges and seven months on a separate probation violation conviction, for a total of 31 months, to be served consecutively to each other.
Melinda Steward appeared for sentencing following pleading guilty in June to tampering with evidence and possession of drugs, felonies of the third degree. She had initially been indicted on eight charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, criminal tools and preparation for sale.
Steward's attorney, Susan Zurface Daniels, said Wednesday that the 29-year-old defendant had started using drugs within the year and did not have a long-term presence in her life.
The state recommended two years in prison, which was the minimum sentence allowed.
"I don't know what went wrong," Steward said. "I'm sorry. I want to change, to turn my life around."
Coss said that he felt the minimum sentence was appropriate because Steward had no prior criminal record, and sentenced her to two years in prison. She was also ordered to forfeit $1,800 that was seized during her arrest, along with some jewelry and a 2002 Pontiac.
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