Belmont County drug court now recertified under Judge Berhalter

ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Belmont County's drug court will be in operation for another three years, now under the direction of Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter.

Berhalter, who took on the common pleas judgeship in September, announced that the state recertified the drug court program on Dec. 15. In order to receive the certification, the local court had to submit an application, undergo a site visit and provide specific program materials in response to certification standards that took effect in January 2014.

"It took a significant amount of work to accomplish this, but it was something we knew we had to do," Berhalter said in a statement.

Drug court exists to give counseling opportunities to low-level offenders. Those who complete drug court successfully have their criminal records cleaned. Judge Frank Fregiato had operated the drug court until he took medical leave then retired in 2023.

"We've been doing it since I came here Sept. 1," Berhalter said.

He said drug treatment was a matter for consideration while he was on the bench at Belmont County Northern Division Court.

"We looked for treatment as an option to those facing addiction when I was in the county court, but we did not have at the county court level a true drug court that's here in the common pleas," he said.

Berhalter said these concerns continue into the felony-level cases in common pleas court.

"Both in the county court and the court of common pleas you can see the devastation caused by drug addiction, and this drug court program exists for those people who want help to get help," he said.

Berhalter said the caseload has not fluctuated significantly during and after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

"We have drug court reviews every other week," he said. "I think the numbers have remained constant of those seeking help, pursuing the drug court route. ... In looking at the numbers since September, the program does work."

Stacey McCutcheon, coordinator of the drug court who has been with the program for eight years, said there are about 25 drug court cases at any given time. She said this remained true during the pandemic.

"We did it remotely from (the court)," she said. "I still get call backs from clients after they've graduated. They'll send me pictures telling me how well they're doing."

Berhalter said the drug court program has remained strict and demanding.

"It can last one to three years, and it is an intensive program," he said. "It is a great tool to help those who need help. You can't get into drug court if it's a violent offense, if it's an offense of violence or a sex offense, you're not permitted in there, and it is only for low-level felonies. It is not a get-out-of-jail free program. It is for those truly battling addiction."

Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Vavra said the court is valuable.

"Drug court is an excellent program. It provides tremendous opportunity for folks to deal with their addiction issues and try to solve them. We're moving forward. It started with (retired) Judge (John) Solovan and then Judge Fregiato, and Judge Berhalter's hitting the ground running and really taking a step forward in how we're addressing things. It's a pretty good program, and we're continuing to evolve with the times and look forward to working with the court," Vavra said.