Traffickers get time for Alpha

Three people involved in what investigators called one of the main supply rings of Alpha-PVP in Lawrence County were sentenced Wednesday in common pleas court.

James Bowles, 31, of 4023 County Road 30, Kitts Hill, was sentenced to six years in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to counts of second- and fifth-degree aggravated trafficking in drugs, fifth-degree possession of drugs and misdemeanor resisting arrest and possession of drug abuse instruments.

Judge Charles Cooper also suspended the man’s driver’s license for five years.

“Mr. Bowles developed a taste for Alpha and got into the sale of it,” Warren Morford, the man’s attorney, said during the sentencing hearing. “He’s admitted that to the court. … I think he’s ready to get clean. He just got caught up in the world of drugs.”

Bowles was visiblyemotional during the hearing and apologized to the court and his family.

“I’d like to put this all behind me and start over,” Bowles said.

David Rick Bowles, 55, of 3954 County Road 55, South Point, was sentenced to five years in prison for his part in the sale of the synthetic drug. He previously pleaded guilty to a second-degree count of aggravated trafficking in drugs.

Cooper suspended his driver’s license for one year.

“I just got hung up and stupid,” David Bowles said. “… I’m basically a good person. I don’t go around trying to break the law. I just got stupid. And I won’t get stupid again.

Charlotte Bowles, 55, of the same address, was sentenced to two years probation. She previously pleaded guilty to a count of misdemeanor permitting drug abuse.

“I was not involved in any of the drug stuff,” she said, thanking the court and her attorney, Philip Heald.

All three defendants were also ordered to forfeit their interests in $19,823 in cash and 33 various firearms and ammunition, which were confiscated during their arrest last July.

The three were arrested following the execution of a search warrant by the Lawrence County Drug and Major Crimes Task Force, the sheriff’s office and the Coal Grove Police K-9 unit at David Bowles’ home on County Road 55.

At the residence, law enforcement found approximately 40 grams of Schedule I drug Alpha-PVP with a street value of $10,000; several digital scales; packaging material; the cash and firearms.

The investigation into the alleged sale of Alpha-PVP was a months-long effort and thought by investigators to be one of the main suppliers of the drug in Lawrence County.

In other cases:

• Henry Runyon, 39, of 811 Township Road 161, South Point, pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree trafficking in drug. Cooper sentenced the man to six years in prison, a $5,000 fine and a three-years driver’s license suspension.

• Walter Bocook, 43, of 523 Rockwood Ave., Chesapeake, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree count of trafficking in heroin. Cooper sentenced the man to six months in prison, a $1,250 fine and six-month driver’s license suspension.

• Brandon Hogsten, 22, of 65 Private Drive 954 County Road 52, Ironton, was sentenced to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation and STAR. He previously pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree count of burglary and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

• Anthony Allen, 47, of 154 County Road 450, South Point, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree count of trafficking in heroin. Judge D. Scott Bowling sentenced him to 10 months in prison and a one-year driver’s license suspension.

• Julie Hall, 39, of 154 County Road 450, South Point, pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree counts of trafficking in heroin. Sentencing was set for Jan. 20.

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