Court hears drug, breaking and entering cases

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EATON — Preble County Common Pleas Court heard cases involving drugs, breaking and entering and failure to comply with the orders of a police officer last week. Judge Stephen R. Bruns presided.

Eric McDermitt, 50, of Eaton, entered a plea of admit to charges of community control violation. McDermitt was indicted on charges of breaking and entering and escape in late 2019; his record also includes charges of vandalism and domestic violence.

Judge Bruns accepted McDermitt’s plea and ordered a pre-sentencing investigation; his next court appearance is a final disposition hearing, to be held Oct. 6.

David C. Joiner, 42, of Richmond, was sentenced on charges of failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer. Joiner has already served nine months of an eight-year sentence in Indiana; Joiner’s record in that state includes convictions for resisting law enforcement, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, endangering a minor, and operating a vehicle after forfeiture of license for life.

Joiner was arrested in Connersville, Indiana in Oct. 2018 after leading authorities on a chase through multiple counties. Joiner was apprehended after police used “stop sticks” to deflate the tires of Joiner’s vehicle.

Judge Bruns sentenced Joiner to two years of incarceration, with 9 days’ credit for time served, to be served concurrently with his present sentence in Indiana. Bruns also ordered a three-year driver’s license suspension.

Anna Johnson, 44, of Eaton, appeared for an arraignment on charges of aggravated possession of drugs and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Johnson was scheduled to offer a guilty plea in return for being ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction (ILC), but Johnson’s court-appointed attorney, Bridget Woolum, asked to withdraw as counsel prior to the start of the ILC hearing.

Woolum claimed she has not had contact with Johnson since “March or April.” Johnson, meanwhile, said she had made an appointment with attorney H. Steven Hobbs with hopes of retaining him as counsel.

“He told me to ask you for a continuance,” Johnson told Judge Bruns.

Hobbs, who had recently appeared before the court in another case, was summoned back to the courtroom, at which point he confirmed that he had an appointment with Johnson. Bruns then rescheduled Johnson’s arraignment for Oct. 7.

William Estes, 33, of Eaton, failed to appear for a change of plea hearing on charges of aggravated possession of drugs. Estes’ record includes charges of theft, possession of heroin and aggravated trafficking in drugs.

Woolum claimed she’d been in contact with Estes two weeks earlier, at which time he “may or may not have been checking in” to a substance abuse treatment facility, according to Woolum. Bruns ordered a warrant issued for Estes’ arrest.

Michael S. Henry, 52, of Gratis, entered a guilty plea to charges of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drug abuse instruments. Judge Bruns ordered a pre-sentencing investigation in the case; Henry’s next court appearance is a final disposition hearing, to be held Oct. 13.

Roy Dawson, 41, of Eaton, entered a guilty plea to charges of aggravated possession of drugs. Judge Bruns ordered a pre-sentencing investigation; Dawson’s next court appearance is a final disposition hearing, to be held Nov. 3.

McDermitt
https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2020/10/web1_Eric-McDermitt.jpgMcDermitt Submitted photo

Henry
https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2020/10/web1_Michael-Henry.jpgHenry Submitted photo

Joiner
https://www.registerherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2020/10/web1_David-Joiner.jpgJoiner Submitted photo

By Anthony Baker

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Reach Anthony Baker at 937-683-4057 or on Facebook or Instagram @mproperenglish

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