Cocaine

A New York City man who ducked out of a court hearing in February was back Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court, where a jury convicted him of cocaine distribution. Eric Christopher Smallwood, 34, also was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. The jury deliberated less than two hours after a full day of testimony before Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr., who deferred sentencing until a presentence report is completed.

A woman who claimed she was badgered into selling cocaine to an informant was sentenced Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court to 2 1/2 years in prison after records of 95 calls, voice-mails and text messages between the informant and the woman were reviewed in court. "The phone calls, they're not as one-sided as you first indicated," Circuit Judge Donald E. Beachley said before sentencing Lisa Sue Rhodes for distribution of cocaine. "I can't say we're looking at a case of entrapment.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. --Police seized 14 grams of crack cocaine, digital scales and $1,165 in cash from a motel room early Tuesday, West Virginia State Police Sgt. T.C. Kearns said. Mark E. Lewis, 36, of 10712 Edgewood Drive in Silver Spring, Md., and Gilbert McDaniel Jr., 26, of 3028 Sulphur Springs Road in Inwood, W.Va., each were arraigned on one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy, according to court records and police. Magistrate Sandra L. Miller set a $60,000 bond for each man, according to court records.

A man who was charged after a loaded .22-caliber handgun, about an ounce of crack cocaine and ammunition were found in April in an apartment off Robinwood Drive pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of cocaine, according to court records. Chaldin Pointdejour entered the plea during his trial in Washington County Circuit Court, according to Robert Veil, supervising attorney for the Washington County Narcotics Task Force. Pointdejour, who previously listed an address of 11321 Youngstoun Drive, Apt. 1904, was sentenced by Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. to four years in prison and given credit for 125 days served, according to court records.

A West Virginia man convicted last month of distribution of crack cocaine was sentenced Thursday in Washington County District Court to six years in state prison. Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. sentenced Matthew Ryan Martinez, 24, of Falling Waters, W.Va., to 10 years in prison, but suspended four years, on the distribution charge. Martinez received the same concurrent sentence on a charge of criminal conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine while a possession of cocaine conviction was merged with the distribution charge.

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HAGERSTOWN -- A Hagerstown woman whose attorney said she sold crack cocaine to buy Halloween costumes for her children was sentenced Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court to four years in prison. Kesha Jean Russ, 33, of 1004 H Noland Drive, pleaded guilty May 27 to criminal conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, according to court records. In exchange for her plea, the state did not prosecute her on charges of distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show.

A Brooklyn, N.Y., man convicted by a jury in April of possession with intent to distribute cocaine resulting from a traffic stop on Interstate 81 was sentenced Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court to 15 years in state prison. Judge John H. McDowell sentenced Garette Edgar Kearse to 15 years, but suspended six years of the sentence. Because Kearse was in possession of more than 28 grams of cocaine, Robert Veil, the supervising state's attorney for the Washington County Narcotics Task Force, argued that Kearse's sentence should include having to serve five years without being eligible for parole.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Authorities seized $30,000 worth of cocaine and about two pounds of marijuana Friday morning from a Kearneysville, W.Va., area apartment, West Virginia State Police Sgt. T.C. Kearns said. Steven Craig McDaniel Jr., 29, of 306 Needy Road, Kearneysville, and Taneka Renea Payton, 26, of Chalmers Court, Berryville, Va., were charged with possession with intent distribute cocaine and marijuana, as well as conspiracy to deliver cocaine and marijuana, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Pennsylvania man who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fake crack cocaine was given a suspended sentence Wednesday by Washington County Circuit Judge Donald E. Beachley and ordered to leave town. "I'll take the probation. Goodbye Hagerstown," David James Daniels, 54, said after the sentencing hearing as he waited for his attorney to drive him to a bus station. Daniels, of 335 Main St., Bentleyville, Pa., pleaded guilty to the charge May 6. In exchange for the plea, charges of distribution of a narcotic, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia were dropped, according to online court records.