Two sentenced in drug case

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Two men were recently sentenced for their roles in a Sept. 10 traffic stop by police that confiscated methamphetamine, marijuana and a loaded handgun.

As part of a plea agreement with the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office, Shaun R. Blankenship, 39, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony, and having weapons under disability, also a third-degree felony. Charges of aggravated possession of drugs and tampering with evidence were dismissed as part of the agreement.

Fayette County Common Pleas Court Judge Steven Beathard sentenced Blankenship to two years on the first count and two years and six months on the second count for a total prison term of four years, six months. Following his release from prison, Blankenship may be subject to a three-year period of supervision by the Adult Parole Authority.

Parker G. Huffman, 26, of Washington C.H., pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated possession of drugs. He was sentenced to the MonDay Community Correctional Institution program in Dayton. The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Treatment program focuses on treating the residents’ substance abuse, criminogenic behavior, and any coexisting mental disorder. Normally, the treatment program lasts six months.

As previously reported by the Record-Herald, on Sept. 10 the Washington Police Department stopped what was reported to be a stolen vehicle on North North Street on Grace Street near Eastern Avenue.

The man driving the vehicle, identified as Huffman, was informed by police he was being charged with receiving stolen property. According to reports, Huffman told police the vehicle was not stolen because a family member told him he could drive it. The family member reportedly told police that he did not give Huffman permission to use the truck and that Huffman lied to obtain the keys.

The passenger in the stolen vehicle, identified as Blankenship, was removed from the vehicle and patted down for weapons. One officer heard the sound of metal on the pavement and observed Blankenship kicking a handgun underneath the officer’s patrol vehicle, reports said.

Blankenship was placed in handcuffs, and the handgun was recovered. The serial number had been filed off, police said, and a live round was found in the chamber with three additional rounds in the magazine. Blankenship has several felony drug charges within his computerized criminal history, police said, which prevented him from legally possessing a firearm.

Police found a red bank bag underneath the passenger side seat where Blankenship had been sitting, according to reports. A key to the bank bag was located inside Blankenship’s front left pocket. Inside the bag were allegedly 16 bags of methamphetamine, one baggie containing three smaller tied baggies of marijuana, three suboxone films, a set of scales, a pipe used to smoke marijuana, and one hypodermic needle.

The baggies of methamphetamine had an approximate weight of 20.46 grams, police said.

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By Ryan Carter

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Reach Ryan Carter at 740-313-0352 or on Twitter @rywica

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