DANEHART

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Shane Allen Danehart will be spending the next nine years behind bars for drug and gang activity.

Danehart, 28, incarcerated with a last known address of 528 44th St., Bellaire, entered a plea Wednesday morning before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra.

“It was an agreed plea and an agreed and stipulated sentence of nine years,” Vavra said, adding that as part of the plea agreement, there will be no appeal.

Danehart pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs, two of them fourth-degree felonies and one a second-degree felony; two counts of possession of drugs, second- and fifth-degree felonies; and one charge of participating in criminal gang activity, a felony of the second degree. All occurred on April 11. He was sentenced to five years on each second-degree felony, to be served concurrently; 18 months on each fourth-degree felony, to be served consecutively; and 12 months on the fifth-degree felony, for a total of nine years.

Vavra added that Danehart would not be eligible for judicial release until he serves five and a half years. Vavra said the drug involved in the case was methamphetamine, and he noted that Danehart is believed to be a member of a gang called the Real Riders. Belmont County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said Danehart had been bringing drugs into the local area from Zanesville, Ohio.

Belmont County Prosecutor Dan Fry said he was extremely pleased that the court followed the recommendation of his office and sentenced Danehart to nine years in prison.

“Judge Vavra imposed a sentence that sends yet another message that drug trafficking will simply not be tolerated,” Fry said.

He also commended the Belmont County Major Crimes Unit, adding that law enforcement investigating the case conducted a sophisicated operation during a period of several months. Though the prosecutor would not release some details of the case because there are others associated with the operation still left to be prosecuted, he said constant monitoring and surveillance tactics were used to make the arrests involved. Fry also said the investigation was initiated in Belmont County but branched out into other counties as well.

“Tim Starkey of the MCU started this investigation, which led to raids not only in Belmont County but also in counties as far west as Muskingum,” Fry said. “What Officer Starkey did in this matter was typical of how our MCU is attacking the drug trafficking problem that exists in this state. Not only are they stopping the flow in to this county, but they are reaching outside of the county and attacking the source.”

In other matters, Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Frank Fregiato heard numerous cases Monday.

∫ Shiquan Montez Wofford, 37, incarcerated, had another year added to his prison sentence after being convicted of an assault that occurred Feb. 19. His attorney, Brent Clyburn, asked Fregiato to consider that Wofford is working toward rehabilitation and seeking education in anticipation of his release in 2020. Clyburn added that Wofford apologized for attacking another inmate who reportedly stole a pair of shoes from him.

“Up until this moment he was a very good prisoner,” Clyburn said. “Life in prison is difficult. You have very few belongings. … He snapped. He apologizes for it.”

“I take full responsibility for my actions back in February,” Wofford said. “My reaction to that situation was wrong.”

∫ Bret Anthony Arrington Sr., 58, of 701 N. Huron St., Wheeling was sentenced to three years of community controls and will serve six months in jail and six months at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center. He was convicted of having weapons under disability on April 13. Work release privileges will be considered.

The defense asked Fregiato to consider Arrington had no criminal intentions when keeping a weapon in his vehicle and said that he has been successfully employed and law-abiding for several years.

“I apologize,” Arrington said. “I know I made a mistake.”

Fregiato noted that Arrington’s prior record includes multiple felony convictions. The gun was ordered forfeited to the state and will be destroyed.

∫ Chelsea Nicole Church, 25, of 68265 Meadow Ave., St. Clairsville had her probation revoked after she admitted to violations including shoplifting and failure to seek counseling for addiction issues. Her sentencing was set for Jan. 14. She originally was convicted of burglary that occurred May 4, 2013.

∫ Thomas James Falzone, 54, of 810 Indiana St., Martins Ferry remains set for trial Jan. 17. He is accused of trafficking in drugs on June 23.

∫ Devan Jay Lucas, 21, incarcerated with an address of 36563 Chestnut Ridge Road, Barnesville, was sentenced for a probation violation. He was given 472 days of credit for time served — enough to cover his sanctions — and was released. He originally was convicted of breaking and entering in an Aug. 7, 2017, incident.

∫ Mark Duane McEndree, 31, indigent, formerly of 46393 Firehouse Lane, Centerville, was sentenced to three years in prison for possession of drugs. He also was sentenced to 12 months for a firearm specification to be served consecutively for a total of four years behind bars.

According to information provided by law enforcement, officers executed a search warrant at the Firehouse Lane location and recovered 20 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a .22-caliber rifle, some cash and drug paraphernalia.

∫ Joseph Matthew Otto, 18, of 133 Oak Drive, Mt. Pleasant was given a sanction of 30 days in jail for a probation violation after admitting to using marijuana. He will then be permitted to resume his supervision status. He originally was convicted of trafficking in drugs in a Feb. 23, 2017, incident.

∫ Jennifer V. Thomas, 30, of 66489 N. Johnson Road, Bethesda admitted a probation violation by failure to make payments and had her probation extended to Jan. 4, 2021, to allow for her to make payments. She originally was convicted of theft and misuse of credit card, occurring May 1, 2014.