ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan announced that Dajuan Fields was sentenced to 24-29.5 years on drug and violence charges Tuesday.

The sentence was handed down in Belmont County Common Pleas Court by Judge Chris Berhalter. Flanagan said that Fields was convicted of drug trafficking with a designation as a major drug offender. He also was convicted of felonious assault.

Flanagan echoed the comments of Berhalter, noting that Fields has a history of violence that warranted such a sentence.

The prosecutor said the defendant entered a guilty plea to the two charges on June 30. According to Flanagan, Fields was involved in a felonious assault that occurred on Sept. 30, 2024. Fields was charged in that case with brutally beating a man known to him and his associates at a residence in Bellaire.

“Evidence developed from the felonious assault as well as some drug activity prior to the assault led investigators to request a search warrant for a home in Barnesville, Ohio, occupied by Fields,” Flanagan wrote in a news release. “Officers executed the search warrant on October 2, 2024 at Fields’ residence and found a large amount of drugs.”

Flanagan commended the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of Bellaire and Barnesville for their joint efforts in developing the case and arresting Fields and several others.

Flanagan said the offices worked toward a common goal, which led to a successful prosecution.

The prosecutor added that many times an investigation will extend outside of one police department’s jurisdiction, so this cooperation between agencies is vital.

“Our sheriff’s department really does an excellent job of conducting and coordinating these large investigations. The Criminal Interdiction Unit and the detective division are always working hand in hand with other local and federal departments. It was their efforts that directly affected the sentence imposed,” Flanagan said.

The prosecutor added that one of the other main reasons for such a significant sentence was the criminal history of Fields. Flanagan said Berhalter read a long list of crimes previously committed, including another felonious assault conviction in Belmont County from 2015. Flanagan noted that Fields was previously sent to prison for that offense, as it related to an assault on a person that Fields thought was providing information about his drug activity. In fact, Flanagan noted, Fields was still on post release control (parole) for that offense when he committed these new offenses.

“This was an important case for us. Mr. Fields has demonstrated a violent history and has now coupled that with major drug activity. This sentence will make a difference,” Flanagan said. “Mr. Fields deserved a significant prison sentence, and that is what he got. This case was about ensuring safety, and Mr. Fields spending the next two and a half decades in prison accomplishes that.”

Flanagan added that in addition to the 24 years in prison, Fields could still receive an additional 5.5 years if he commits violations of prison rules while incarcerated.