A West Chester man was sentenced Thursday, Oct. 26, to three years’ community control in Logan County Common Pleas Court on a pair of fifth-degree felony charges of aggravated possession of drugs and identity fraud.
The case involving defendant William Abrams, 45, dates back to July 2022 in part because he failed to appear as ordered for multiple hearings during his case.
A vehicle he was driving was stopped July 15, 2022, by officers of the Washington Township Police Department in the area of state routes 235 and 274 because of a broken front windshield and loud exhaust. Upon making contact with Abrams, signs of drug use were observed.
Abrams was asked to exit the vehicle and officers noticed him making suspicious movements. Officers reached inside the vehicle and pinned the suspect’s arm against his body, discovering Abrams was concealing a clear plastic baggie containing a white crystal substance.
The defendant was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest.
Once at the jail, Abrams stated he had given a false name to the officers and provided officers with a new Social Security security number. He said he previously gave his brother‘s name and Social Security number knowing he had outstanding warrants.
Officers confirmed that Abrams had warrants out of Montgomery County.
Abrams also was cited at that time for driving under child support suspension and equipment violations.
• David Marlow, 29, of Sidney, was sentenced Thursday to three years of community control and ordered to undergo a stint at the West Central Community Based Correctional Facility for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
He was arrested March 11 following a traffic stop executed by officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department. Upon making contact with Marlow, police observed suspected signs of drug abuse and Marlow was unable to provide identification or a valid driver’s license.
He admitted to police to possessing drug paraphernalia.
A search of the vehicle revealed several syringes and other drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale. Officers also located a bottle of prescription methadone. The label had been tampered with and officers were unable to identify the person prescribed the methadone.
Marlow was also reportedly involved with attempting to sell counterfeit narcotics. Inside the truck, officers identified crushed up melatonin and table salt.
He told police he was struggling, homeless and recently had sought help for their drug addiction.
Woman ordered not to have contact with victim after sentence for assault
A woman was sentenced Thursday to community control in Logan County Common Pleas Court for assault and resisting arrest following an altercation in March involving her neighbor.
Ashley Prater, 27, of Bellefontaine, must serve two years of community control and is ordered not to have any contact with the victim for three years. She must also pay court costs related to the March 9 incident at her Kristina Drive apartment.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department were dispatched to her apartment on a report that Prater had slapped her neighbor. When police arrived and attempted to get a statement from the victim, Prater began yelling for the police to leave. As officers attempted to make contact with Prater she continued to be defiant and confrontational with police, refusing orders to step outside her apartment.
Officers forcibly placed the defendant under arrest at that time and she struggled and kicked at police the entire way to the cruiser, continuing to swear at police.
She was lodged in the Logan County Jail at that time, and was placed in a restraint chair.