Officials arrest 27 Defiance County residents on drug charges

More than 25 individuals were arrested on drug charges Monday in Defiance County following a lengthy undercover drug investigation.

According to Multi-Area Narcotics (MAN) Unit director Doug Engel, the roundup was the result of an 18-month investigation by the agency that focused primarily on prescription opiates, but also resulted in charges involving cocaine and marijuana.

The investigation culminated in 88 drug-related offenses against 31 individuals following indictments from a Defiance County grand jury.

Approximately 40 officers with the MAN Unit, Defiance County Sheriff’s Office, Defiance Police Department, Adult Parole Authority, Defiance Municipal and Defiance County Common Pleas courts, Defiance County prosecutor’s office, Child Protective Service of Defiance and Paulding counties, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) assisted in Monday’s raid, which began just after 8 a.m.

By noon, 27 suspects had been taken into custody before appearing Monday in Defiance County Common Pleas Court.

Defiance County Prosecutor Morris Murray said the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges, including child endangering charges, may be filed against some of the individuals.

Among the items seized by officers during Monday’s operation were various amounts of suspected drugs — which will be sent to BCI for testing — and drug paraphernalia, including multiple needles, pipes and straws used for snorting.

Defiance County Sheriff David Westrick said opiate use continues to be a problem locally.

“The heroin epidemic here is growing with little end in sight,” he said. “We are aware of nine deaths last year directly associated with heroin in Defiance County and that does not include those that were revived with the use of narcan.”

“This has been a good operation conducted by the MAN Unit,” added Murray. “Hopefully it will have an impact on what’s going on with the drug culture here.”

Indicted and arrested were:

• Stacey McCready, 41, 1221 Ayersville Ave., two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (fentanyl), second- and fourth degree felonies; and trafficking in drugs (clonazepam), a fourth-degree felony. McCready pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 5.

• Bethany Ballew, 40, 609 Dakota Place, aggravated trafficking in drugs (fentanyl), a third-degree felony. Ballew was given a personal-recognizance bond and was ordered to reappear today for arraignment.

• Dawn Leis-Bertram, 44, 1213 Fallen Timbers Drive, two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (oxycodone), third- and fourth degree felonies; and two counts of permitting drug abuse, each a fifth-degree felony. Leis-Bertram pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 3.

• Jamish Robinson, 30, 281⁄2 College Place, four counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (oxycodone), third- and fourth degree felonies; two counts of trafficking in drugs (bubprenorphine/suboxone), each a fifth-degree felony; aggravated trafficking in drugs (hydromorphone), a fourth-degree felony; trafficking in drugs (clonazepam), a fifth-degree felony; possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony; aggravated possession of drugs (amphetamine), a fifth-degree felony; and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. Robinson’s bond was set at $150,000 with a 10 percent cash option and he was ordered to reappear on Feb. 23. A future grand jury is expected to consider additional charges against Robinson, who was the manager of Talk-N-Win Internet cafe at Northtowne Mall when it was raided by authorities in December for alleged illegal gambling. • Dominic Torrez, 29, 844 N. Clinton St., aggravated trafficking in drugs (methadone), a third-degree felony; trafficking in marijuana, a fourth-degree felony; and three counts of trafficking in drugs (suboxone), each a fourth-degree felony. Torrez pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 2.

• Katie Hoffman, 32, 21271 Powers Road, two counts of trafficking in drugs (buprenorphine/ suboxone), each a fourthdegree felony. Hoffman pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 24.

• Dale Howard, 56, 14832 Dohoney Road; and Jan Howard, 53, 14832 Dohoney Road, each for aggravated trafficking in drugs (oxycodone), a fourth-degree felony; two counts of trafficking in drugs (xanax and alprazolam), each a fifth-degree felony; and trafficking in drugs (dihydrocodeine and hydrocodone), a fifth degree felony. Both pleaded not guilty and were given personal-recognizance bonds. Jan Howard’s pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 23 while Dale Howard’s was scheduled for Feb. 24.

• Ronald Muncey Jr., 47, 1626 Baringer Drive, two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, each a fourth-degree felony; and permitting drug abuse, each a fifth-degree felony. Muncey pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 26.

• Todd Johnson, 31, 1051 Ralston Ave., two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (morphine and oxycodone), each a fourth degree felony. Johnson was given a personal recognizance bond. He was scheduled to reappear for arraignment this morning.

• Michael Loop, 28, 426 Douglas St., trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony. Loop pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 3.

• Humberto Perez Sr., 63, 509 Gibson St., two counts of trafficking in cocaine, fourth- and fifth-degree felonies. Perez was given a personal-recognizance bond and was ordered to reappear for arraignment on Feb. 23.

• Ruben Perez Sr., 49, 509 Gibson St., trafficking in cocaine, a fourth-degree felony. Perez pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 2.

• Ruben Rosa, 44, 1017 Davidson St., trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. Rosa pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 3.

• Jill Willmarth, 44, 603 Sierra Way, trafficking in cocaine, a fourth-degree felony. Willmarth pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 2.

• Nathan Wireman, 31, 915 Harrison Ave., trafficking in drugs (suboxone), a fourth-degree felony. He was given a personal recognizance bond and ordered to reappear for arraignment this morning.

• Nicole Wireman, 30, 13536 Fullmer Road, three counts of trafficking in drugs (suboxone and clonazepam), fourth- and fifth degree felonies. She was given a personal-recognizance bond and ordered to reappear for arraignment today.

• Jared Hernandez, 22, 844 N. Clinton St., two counts of trafficking in heroin and two counts of trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances, each a fifth-degree felony. Hernandez pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 24.

• Hakeem Hunt, 31, 717 Riverside Ave., two counts of trafficking in cocaine, each a fifth-degree felony. Hunt pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 24.

• Nicholas Larkin, 30, 924 Karnes Ave., two counts of trafficking in marijuana, each a fifth-degree felony. Larkin pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 2.

• Carroll Parcher Jr., 53, 829 E. Second St., two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (oxycodone), third- and fourthdegree felonies; and trafficking in drugs (lorazepam), a fifth-degree felony. He pleaded not guilty and was given a personalrecognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 2.

• Nettie Parcher, 54, 829 E. Second St., two counts of trafficking in drugs (lorazepam), each a fifthdegree felony. She pleaded not guilty and was given a personal recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 24.

• Christy Sarka, 37, 1020 Perry St., trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. Sarka was given a personal-recognizance bond and was ordered to reappear today.

• Tracy Scott, 28, 525 Haig St., trafficking in heroin and permitting drug abuse, each a fifth-degree felony. Scott was given a personal recognizance bond and was ordered to reappear today for arraignment.

• Joseph Thompson, 40, 844 N. Clinton St., five counts of trafficking in cocaine and one count of permitting drug abuse, each a fifth-degree felony. Thompson pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 26.

• Rachel Yonge, 34, 1221 Ayersville Ave., trafficking in drugs (buprenorphine) and trafficking in cocaine, each a fifth-degree felony. Yonge pleaded not guilty and was given a personal-recognizance bond. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 26.

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