Wooster man gets prison for cocaine trafficking

A man indicted last year on drug trafficking charges and picked up in Canton after fleeing the county was sentenced to 11 months in prison.

Dante S. Hardison, 23, last known address of 2401⁄2 E. Bowman St., Wooster, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, in Wayne County Common Pleas Court.

Hardison was indicted in May 2014 after he sold cocaine to an undercover informant with the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency in October 2013.

But he failed to show for a change of plea hearing in October and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitives Task Force arrested Hardison in Canton, where he resides, April 2.

He pleaded guilty to the trafficking charge a week later.

Court records indicate Hardison has a criminal history dating back to 2010, mostly for misdemeanor charges such as assault, disorderly conduct and allowing his dog to run at large.

He was indicted twice in 2011 for possession and trafficking charges. He ultimately served some jail time for the trafficking charge.

Don Hall, director of Medway, said Hardison was born in New Jersey and is someone the agency has been familiar with since 2011.

By STEVEN F. HUSZAI @the-daily-record.com