ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Drug-related court cases dominated the docket throughout the week in Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Frank Fregiato’s courtroom.

Thursday brought the sentencing of Rodney Albert Curlee, 37, of Cleveland for possession of drugs , a felony of the fourth degree.

The charge stemmed from an Aug. 24, 2016, traffic stop in the St. Clairsville area. Court records state Curlee was a passenger in a vehicle that led law enforcement on a chase on Interstate 70.

Deputies observed a lane violation and attempted to initiate a stop on an eastbound vehicle operated by Curlee’s co-defendant, Lamont Johnson of Akron, Ohio.

Johnson reportedly refused to stop his vehicle at mile post 216.

The deputies were joined by the Bridgeport and St. Clairsville police departments, as well as the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in the pursuit.

The chase lasted more than 2 miles and ended near the Mall Road exit ramp.

Two sheriff’s cruisers were struck by Johnson’s vehicle in the course of the chase. One deputy sustained a minor injury during the crash. During the course of the pursuit, one officer saw what he believed to be a small plastic bag expelled from the vehicle’s window.

Johnson previously pleaded guilty to felonious assault but failed to appear for his sentencing in July. He remains at large.

Curlee initially was charged with complicity for his role as a passenger in Johnson’s vehicle.

Court records state that when Curlee was arrested, he denied having any illegal drugs in his possession; a search of his person at the jail, though, revealed that he did have illegal drugs, leading to the current charge.

On Thursday, Curlee’s defense attorney asked for less than the maximum sentence, pointing out the personal and family tragedies Curlee had undergone during 2016.

Curlee apologized for his actions, adding that he had been battling addiction for years and has tried to rehabilitate himself since his arrest.

“I was in a dark place. I had started experimenting with drugs I had never used before. It was tearing me up,” Curlee said.

Fregiato pointed to Curlee’s lengthy prior record in the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County area, including numerous cases of drug-related crimes and other offenses.

The judge said that while many charges had been dismissed or nullified, others had resulted in guilty findings.

“You’ve been given many opportunities and many chances,” Fregiato said while imposing a sentence of 18 months. “This is hardly as situation where you have not had an opportunity in the past.”

In addition, Fregiato heard a guilty plea Wednesday from Kiana Bri’en Wallace, 25, incarcerated, for tampering with evidence.

The fourth-degree felony occurred Nov. 6. Her sentencing date was set for April 23. She faces a maximum sentence of 18 months behind bars.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Wallace had been on probation and attempted to provide another person’s urine for testing, but that urine also tested positive for drugs.