Pleas rejected in engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Attorneys for two defendants who remain in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case say they will go to trial, after rejecting plea agreement offered by the Highland County Prosecutor's Office.
Co-defendants Thomas Peters and Donna Gillam appeared Tuesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court for a status hearing. They were scheduled to stand trial beginning Dec. 19, and appeared Tuesday for a status hearing before Judge Rocky Coss.
Tuesday was the last day to enter a plea in the case. Unless plea agreements are completed by 4 p.m. Tuesday, both cases will proceed to trial, Coss said.
Daniel O'Brien, attorney for Peters, told the court that, "negotiations were very intense" between defense counsel and Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.
"I went and visited my client last night in the rain. We were very close to getting it settled. We just couldn't get it done," O'Brien said. "We came as close as you can come without getting the case settled."
O'Brien had told the court that he felt that by proceeding with trial on Dec. 19 it would be prejudicial against his client, because jurors might hurry through deliberations in order to be home with their families on Christmas. The court has stated they believe the trial could be concluded by Dec. 23.
Coss initially said he would consider setting the trial for Jan. 23, and he told O'Brien that it will not extend the time in which a plea agreement could be entered.
"There will be no plea after today, and the matter will proceed to trial," Coss said.
Gillam's attorney George Katchmer told the court that the state's plea deal had been "rejected" and that they were ready to proceed to trial on Dec. 19. Coss said that both trials would be scheduled for Dec. 19.
Peters is facing 74 counts, including first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, trafficking drugs in the vicinity of a school and trafficking drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile.
Following his August indictment, Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward referred to Peters as the "ringleader" of the alleged drug trafficking operation.
Gillam is facing 20 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking, and possession of drugs.
Peters and Gillam were indicted in August with nine other defendants in the case, along with real estate and bank accounts, on 173 counts by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court. The indictment was a result of a continuing investigation into alleged patterns of corrupt activity involving a drug pipeline law enforcement says is responsible for bringing heroin into Highland County via Greenfield. Defendants Tesse Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr, Greg Smith, Quentin Binegar and Stephanie Ford have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment and agreed to testify against the remaining co-defendants. Defendant Bradley Rickman has pleaded guilty but has not agreed to testify, according to his attorney. The overall charges included first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, and trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile.
Attorneys for two defendants who remain in an engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities case say they will go to trial, after rejecting plea agreement offered by the Highland County Prosecutor's Office.
Co-defendants Thomas Peters and Donna Gillam appeared Tuesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court for a status hearing. They were scheduled to stand trial beginning Dec. 19, and appeared Tuesday for a status hearing before Judge Rocky Coss.
Tuesday was the last day to enter a plea in the case. Unless plea agreements are completed by 4 p.m. Tuesday, both cases will proceed to trial, Coss said.
Daniel O'Brien, attorney for Peters, told the court that, "negotiations were very intense" between defense counsel and Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.
"I went and visited my client last night in the rain. We were very close to getting it settled. We just couldn't get it done," O'Brien said. "We came as close as you can come without getting the case settled."
O'Brien had told the court that he felt that by proceeding with trial on Dec. 19 it would be prejudicial against his client, because jurors might hurry through deliberations in order to be home with their families on Christmas. The court has stated they believe the trial could be concluded by Dec. 23.
Coss initially said he would consider setting the trial for Jan. 23, and he told O'Brien that it will not extend the time in which a plea agreement could be entered.
"There will be no plea after today, and the matter will proceed to trial," Coss said.
Gillam's attorney George Katchmer told the court that the state's plea deal had been "rejected" and that they were ready to proceed to trial on Dec. 19. Coss said that both trials would be scheduled for Dec. 19.
Peters is facing 74 counts, including first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, trafficking drugs in the vicinity of a school and trafficking drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile.
Following the August indictment, Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward referred to Peters as the "ringleader" of the alleged drug trafficking operation.
Gillam is facing 20 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking, and possession of drugs.
Peters and Gillam were indicted in August with nine other defendants in the case, along with real estate and bank accounts, on 173 counts by a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court. The indictment was a result of a continuing investigation into alleged patterns of corrupt activity involving a drug pipeline law enforcement says is responsible for bringing heroin into Highland County via Greenfield. Defendants Tesse Everhart, Jennifer Forsha, Roderick Croy, April Elliot, Frank Parr, Greg Smith, Quentin Binegar and Stephanie Ford have pleaded guilty to charges from the indictment and agreed to testify against the remaining co-defendants. Defendant Bradley Rickman has pleaded guilty but has not agreed to testify, according to his attorney. The overall charges included first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, and trafficking in drugs in the vicinity of a juvenile.