7 HEADED TO PRISON, 3 TO CBCF

Gallia County Prosecuting Attorney, Jason D. Holdren, announces the recent sentencings of 10 individuals by Judge Margaret Evans in the Gallia County Common Pleas Court.

Christopher J. VanMeter, age 32, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was recently convicted of Non-Support of Dependents, a felony of the fourth degree; Failure to Appear, a felony of the fourth degree; Having Weapons While Under a Disability, a felony of the third degree; and Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree. VanMeter was sentenced to six years in prison.

James D. Armstrong, age 46, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was recently convicted of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (Methamphetamine) in an amount that equals or exceeds five times bulk but is less than fifty times bulk, a felony of the second degree. Armstrong was sentenced to a mandatory prison term of five years.

Eric L. Payne, age 42, of Dayton, Ohio, was recently convicted of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, a felony of the second degree; and Trafficking in Heroin, a felony of the fifth degree. Payne was sentenced to a mandatory prison term of five years.

Jett A. Acree, age 40, of Crown City, Ohio, was recently convicted of Improper Handling of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree; Receiving Stolen Property (Firearm), a felony of the fourth degree; and Illegal Assembly of Chemicals for Manufacturing Methamphetamine in the Vicinity of a Juvenile, a felony of the second degree. Acree was sentenced to a mandatory prison term of three years. Upon his release from prison, Acree is ordered to successfully complete a CBCF program and halfway house. Upon release from the halfway house, Acree is ordered to submit to an evaluation for and, if needed, enter and successfully complete the Gallia County Common Pleas Drug Court.

Christine A. Gates, age 50, of Thurman, Ohio, was recently convicted of Robbery, a felony of the second degree. Gates was sentenced to prison for two years.

Rudolph M. Daft, age 39, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was recently convicted of Receiving Stolen Property, a felony of the fourth degree. Daft was sentenced to prison for the maximum term of 18 months.

Jessie I. Smith, age 39, of Charleston, West Virginia, was recently convicted of Failure to Appear, a felony of the fourth degree. Smith also violated the terms of his community control from a previous case by committing a new crime. Smith was sentenced to prison for 12 months.

Tammy J. Gray, age 52, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was recently convicted of Theft in Office, a felony of the fifth degree; and Theft of Drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. Prior to sentencing, Gray had served 102 days in jail awaiting trial. Gray was sentenced to community control for 36 months. Gray was ordered to successfully complete a CBCF program and halfway house.

Harvey E. Hale, II, age 35, of Wellston, Ohio, was recently convicted of Illegal Conveyance of Drugs into a Detention Facility, a felony of the third degree; and Aggravated Possession of Drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Hale was sentenced to community control for 36 months and ordered to successfully complete a CBCF program and halfway house. Upon release from the halfway house, Hale is ordered to submit to an evaluation for and, if needed, enter and successfully complete the Gallia County Common Pleas Drug Court.

Randall A. Ashworth, Jr., age 29, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was recently convicted of Theft, a felony of the fifth degree. Ashworth was sentenced to community control for 36 months and ordered to successfully complete a CBCF program, halfway house, and the Gallia County Common Pleas Drug Court.