By Frank Lewis
A Columbus man has pleaded guilty to trafficking in heroin and cocaine and been sentenced to nine years in prison. Kylan M. Hansard, 38, of 3075 Elmreeb Drive, Columbus, was indicted by the Scioto County grand jury after Portsmouth Municipal Court probation officers conducted a field visit on a probationer and discovered what they described as a large quantity of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, syringes and drug paraphernalia at an apartment at 1500 Sixth Street in Portsmouth.
According to information presented to the court by assistant prosecutors Pat Apel and Julie Hutchinson, Hansard and five others were in the apartment to trade shoplifted clothing and hygiene items in return for payment in heroin and cocaine. After knocking and announcing their presence, the probation officers arrested Steven A. Johnson, 39, of Portsmouth on an outstanding warrant. Apel said Johnson resisted and was taken into custody forcefully.
The prosecutor’s office said the probation officers called the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force who responded and seized heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, a 2007 Pontiac, digital scales with drug residue, sandwich baggies they said were used to transfer drugs, a loaded firearm and $2,641 in cash. The items were forfeited to the state.
Arrested with Hansard and Johnson were Karen McCleese, 39, Tonia Thomas, 39, Jessica Weaver, 25, and Ruben Johnson, 29, all of Portsmouth.
“This is another case of an out of town drug dealer bringing large quantities of drugs into our community,” Apel said. “This defendant had the locals rent an apartment and then he used it as a trap house, a place for addicts to bring stolen items and buy drugs and use the drugs right on the premises.”
Hansard will be sentenced by Judge William T. Marshall in January to nine years in prison. McCleese, Thomas and Ruben Johnson are scheduled to plead guilty. Steven Johnson is not in custody. Drug charges against Weaver have been dismissed. Apel said she is facing pending charges of failure to appear for court. Steven Johnson, McCleese, Thomas and Weaver have served prior prison terms for drug-related offenses.
Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.
