EATON — Preble County Common Pleas Court heard drug and probation violation cases this week. Judge Stephen R. Bruns presided.

Robert M. White, 30, appeared via video teleconference with the Preble County Jail for a hearing on charges of ILC and community control violation. White was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction on charges of aggravated possession of drugs, illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, and menacing by stalking in 2019.

According to court documents, White “knowingly engaged in a pattern of conduct which caused the victims in the case to fear that he would cause them mental distress or physical harm.” White also reportedly attempted to flee from a police officer who pulled him over in Jan. 2019.

Under the terms of his ILC agreement, White’s convictions on many of the charges would have been expunged upon successful completion of a treatment program. White was initially charged with ILC violation in June of this year. White entered a plea of admit to the violations on Wednesday, resulting in his previous guilty pleas being admitted into the record; his next court appearance is a sentencing hearing, to be held Oct. 21.

Michael S. Henry, 52, of Gratis, was sentenced on charges of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drug abuse instruments; an additional count of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed.

Judge Bruns cited a positive report from Henry’s probation officer for influencing his decision.

“He was struck by what he perceived to be sincerity on your part,” Bruns said. “A desire to get clean and get healthy.”

Bruns sentenced Henry to three years of community control; a prison term of 12 months could be imposed if Henry violates the terms of his probation.

Also in court this week:

Joseph W. Williams, 45, of New Lebanon, was ordered to pursue substance abuse treatment in lieu of conviction on charges of aggravated possession of drugs and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

Daniel L. Taulbee, 35, of New Paris, appeared on charges of aggravated possession of drugs, aggravated trafficking in drugs, and illegal use or assembly of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs. His next court appearance is a pre-trial conference, to be held Dec. 3, with a trial date set for Dec. 21.

Finally, Carolyn S. Bush, 70, of Dayton, appeared for a motion to suppress hearing on charges of possession of cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, and possessing criminal tools. Bush was arrested in Camden shortly after 2 a.m. on June 4 after the vehicle in which Bush was a passenger was pulled over by a Camden Police officer for sporting a fictitious temporary license plate. A subsequent check of the Vehicle Identification Number reportedly showed that it was not registered to either Bush or the driver.

A search of the vehicle – which the officer claimed was undertaken with the consent of the driver – revealed large quantities of cash and a ledger containing various dates, names, weights, and dollar amounts. A bag found in the vehicle, which Bush reportedly admitted was hers, contained packages of a substance later proven to be cocaine.

Bush’s attorney argued that the arresting officer had merely gotten his client’s consent to “check,” rather than search, her bag, and that the cocaine subsequently recovered should be ruled inadmissible as evidence. Preble County Prosecuting Attorney Martin Votel, meanwhile, stated it was clear Bush knew the officer meant to search the contents of her bag.

Judge Bruns stated he would review cruiser cam footage of the search and render a verdict at a later date.