News
More Charges Filed In Glouster Drug Ring
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
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Two alleged participants in a drug ring out of Glouster, including the alleged head of the operation, had further charges leveled against them on Thursday.
Derek Gyure, 26, and Kendra Sharrer, 22, of Glouster, were both served with superseding indictments after an Athens County Grand Jury met in Athens County Common Pleas Court, according to a press release by the Athens County Prosecutor's Office.
The grand jury returned a 16-count indictment including five counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, two counts each of possessing criminal tools and tampering with evidence, and one count each of aggravated possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, having weapons while under disability, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, illegal cultivation of marijuana, endangering children and intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness.
Gyure was originally indicted on May 6 on five counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, one count of aggravated possession of drugs, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of having weapons under disability, one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and one count of possessing criminal tools.
The indictment against Sharrer charged her with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, one count of aggravated possession of drugs and one count of tampering with evidence.
She was originally indicted on May 12 on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, one count of tampering with evidence and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Gyure and Sharrer were both charged initially in a drug roundup conducted in a joint operation by the Athens County Sheriff's Office, the Athens Police Department, the Ohio University Police Department, the Athens County Prosecutor's Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The drug ring is being called by authorities as one of the largest prescription drug rings in the county's history.
The drug ring allegedly also included Bert Sharrer, Jr., who is charged with allegedly engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity as well.
John Casey Metcalf and Bert C. Sharrer, were also charged in the case, but have since agreed to plea deals with the prosecution. Metcalf was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison, and Sharrer was sentenced to 10 years in prison on July 2. Both have agreed to testify truthfully in matters related to the cases against their co-defendants as part of their plea agreements.