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Garrett
gets 18 months for drug trafficking
By
Bob Robinson
GREENVILLE
– “I’ve been in court a long time, into drugs a long time,”
said Donald L. Garrett, Jr., when he had his opportunity to speak. He
said he lost a friend that morning to an overdose. He didn’t want
that, adding he has six kids. “Is there any way I can get help?”
Common
Pleas Judge Jonathan Hein noted three pages of convictions, including
two prison terms in Ohio and one in Indiana. He told him “You own
what you do… just like the rest of us. Everyone else in this
courtroom chooses to obey the law. You don’t. You have to choose to
do what’s lawful.”
Hein
then sentenced Garrett to 18 months in prison, less 49 days for time
served, on two Felony 4 counts of Trafficking. There will be three
years optional post release supervision plus court costs and
restitution totaling $635. Court costs can be worked off with
community service hours.
“This
is not rocket science,” Hein said. “You do what you want. I’m
not saying it’s easy. It isn’t… but it’s not hard.”
Earlier,
Darke County Prosecutor Kelly Ormsby said the state and the defense
were in agreement on a recommended 18 month prison term, noting the
defendant has had drug problems and convictions.
Garrett’s
defense attorney Randall Breaden said he felt the fine was not
appropriate as he’s indigent. He noted Garrett was trafficking to
pay for the drugs he needed.
Before
passing sentence, Hein said the risk of recidivism is likely and the
defendant had gone through drug rehabilitation before.
“You
have to own it,” Hein said. “If you want to do this, you can… I
can beat you over the head and it won’t do any good because you’ll
do what you want to do.”
Garrett
was arrested on June 4 during a joint operation by the Darke County
Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department, with
assistance from Greenville Rescue. There were four original charges;
three were for trafficking, one was for having Weapons while under
Disability. Garrett pleaded guilty on Sept. 9 to the two trafficking
charges.
Published
courtesy of Blue Bag Media
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