Lawrence decide units date for county’s first felony trial since pandemic after man rejects plea deal | Information

IRONTON – A man from Wheelersburg, Ohio turned down a plea deal in Lawrence County’s Common Pleas Court last week that would have jailed him for five to seven and a half years.

Tyron Markel, 45, of 45 County Road, was charged with aggravated assault last year. He also faces violations of community control sanctions.

Judge Andy Ballard put the case on trial on May 3. It would be the first criminal case in the county since the pandemic began more than a year ago. The jury in the case must be socially distant, Ballard said.

In an unrelated case, Ballard suspended a July 8 trial of Fred R. Aldridge, 40, of Ohio River Road in Wheelersburg. He is charged with two cases of increased trafficking in 392 grams of meth, 24 grams of fentanyl and two cases of increased drug possession.

Two other people turned down plea agreements this week.

Kaye R. McKenzie, 32, of the 800 block on High Street, Coal Grove, turned down a plea deal for tampering with evidence and sanctions against community control.

She turned down a deal that would have sentenced her to 30 months in prison. A preliminary test was scheduled for May 19.

Michael S. Sharp, 46, of the 2500 block on South 3rd Street in Ironton, turned down a plea deal that would have jailed him for 18 months for domestic violence and violating community control sanctions on criminal alimony. According to official figures, he owes about $ 17,000 in child support payments.

• Mary K. White, 29, of 1534 Township Road in Proctorville, pleaded not guilty of trafficking 13 grams of heroin near a school. The bond was set at $ 50,000.

• Megan R. Adkins, 28, of 26 County Road, Ironton, pleaded guilty to a drug case. She was ordered to complete drug treatment at Mended Reeds in Ironton. She was also ordered to do 200 hours of community service.

• Samuel C. Santee, 37, of 2600 block on South 4th Street in Ironton, pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin. Pending another lawsuit, he was released on a $ 10,000 note of recognition.

■ Samantha G. Maynard, 28, of Tomahawk, Kentucky, pleaded guilty of aggravating meth possession, tampered with evidence, and received $ 6,625 in cash from a forfeiture crime. Pending another lawsuit, she was released on a $ 10,000 note of recognition.