Logan County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kevin P. Braig today sentenced Audric D. Clay to a maximum prison sentence of 12.5 to 18 years on convictions of possession of cocaine, a felony of the first degree, trafficking in cocaine, a felony of the fifth degree, and carrying a concealed weapon, a felony of the fourth degree.
Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Rosen represented the State of Ohio at the hearing. On behalf of the State, she recommended a 10-year prison sentence. Defense counsel Griff Nowicki of Dayton, Ohio, recommended a sentence of 5-to-7 years. On October 19, 2023, Logan County Sheriff’s Office deputies pursued Clay as he fled in a motor vehicle. During the pursuit, Clay threw almost 100 grams of cocaine and almost 14-grams of xylazine/fentanyl from his motor vehicle. DNA on a backpack that contained the drugs was consistent with Clay’s DNA. Clay’s vehicle came to rest in a cornfield and Clay fled on foot, evading officers. According to the pre-sentence investigation report, officers also recovered a 9 mm Taurus handgun that Clay threw from the vehicle and a loaded 9 mm Helwan firearm that was found inside the vehicle. “The facts in this case are almost identical to the facts of some of the most serious possession and trafficking cases that have come before this Court during the past five years,” Judge Braig told Clay. “Your criminal history is also extensive. You have left the Court no choice but to impose the stiffest penalty it is permitted to impose under Ohio law.”
During his time in ARC, Hill started his own business and worked diligently satisfy his obligation to make restitution for his offenses.
“What stood out about Julie and Greg was their willingness to take personal responsibility for the consequences of their past actions,” Judge Braig said. “The treatment team worked hard with them to develop plans to address and satisfy their obligations. They did so without making excuses or resisting. Recovery is hard. Cleaning up after yourself is hard. They excelled in both areas. I think they both have bright futures.” The ARC treatment team works within the framework of the traditional Logan County Common Pleas Court. The ARC’s mission is to achieve specific, rehabilitative objectives. The objectives of the ARC are to monitor treatment for substance abuse disorder of ARC participants, encourage and incentivize ARC participants to achieve rehabilitation and personal accountability, and decrease criminal activity and the need for incarceration. The ARC provides its participants with the support of Judge Braig, Treatment Coordinator and Program Manager Annette Deao, Compliance Officers Jim Pleasant, Mandy Wilber, and Gary Ledford, Logan County Jail liaisons Doug Boggs and Amber Pickford, and treatment providers from TCN Behavioral Health Services, Community Health Wellness, the Justice Reinvestment Grant, Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Rosen, local attorneys Natalie Bahan and Greg Harvey, and others. The members of the ARC Team share the goals of: (1) empowering ARC participants through treatment, accountability, and responsibility, (2) assisting ARC participants in achieving recovery from substance abuse disorder, and (3) helping ARC participants lead useful and productive lives. |
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