GREENVILLE — One man was arraigned on forgery charges in Darke County Common Pleas Court Friday, while another pled guilty to assault and reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and a third was sentenced in connection with a heroin trafficking charge. Judge Joseph Hein presided.
Jeffrey Hicks of Cincinnati was arraigned via video uplink from the county jail on a charge of forgery, a fifth degree felony. Hicks, who waived his right to counsel, had a lengthy criminal history, including theft, drug, and sex-related offenses.
“I’m 60 years old, Your Honor,” Hicks said when asked if he recalled the circumstances surrounding these charges. “I can’t remember everything I done been through.”
Judge Hein showed little patience for the defendant’s claims of faulty memory.
“Mr. Green here is about that age,” Hein said, referring to the county prosecutor handling the case. “Do you think he has no memory just because he has gray hair?”
Hicks was released and ordered to report to the county courthouse as quickly as possible. His next appearance will in Greenville Municipal Court August 24.
Joseph Dye of Greenville entered into a plea agreement with the prosecutor, pleading guilty to charges of assault and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. These charges were amended from domestic violence, a fourth degree felony, and driving under the influence, a first degree misdemeanor, respectively, in accordance with the plea agreement. Dye was also charged with failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, a fourth degree felony carrying a mandatory three-year driver’s license suspension.
Dye was composed and apologetic in court, claiming he’d been attending mandatory alcohol abuse treatment as a condition of his release.
“Is that sinking in?” Judge Hein asked.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Dye replied, also thanking the judge for having released him previously on his own recognizance. His next court appearance is October 13.
Finally, Ralph Bailey of Greenville was sentenced on charges of trafficking in heroin and aggravated trafficking in drugs, both fourth degree felonies. Bailey claimed the heroin and fentanyl found in his possession were not intended for sale, but had in fact been procured on behalf of a woman with whom he hoped to become romantically involved. Bailey became emotional in court, claiming he feared for his life as a result of numerous individuals he had implicated in drug-related offenses as part of his plea agreement, and said he planned to leave the state with his son after completing requirements for his release.
Judge Hein urged Bailey to avoid getting involved with drugs in the future for the sake of his young son.
“When he sees this stuff going on, he thinks that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” Hein said.
Bailey was sentenced to four days in county jail and 30 days of house arrest.
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