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Defendants Plead Not Guilty in Athens County Drug Ring


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Edit 12:09pm Wednesday, July 1: Patricia Vore was arraigned early Tuesday morning, also pleading not guilty. That brings the total arraigned defendants up to 10.

Nine of the 14 individuals indicted in an alleged Athens County drug ring pleaded not guilty today in Athens Common Pleas Court.

Prosecutor Keller Blackburn outlined what he called a “criminal conspiracy” at the arraignment Tuesday.

The Degarmore, Losey, Spears and Vore families allegedly play a major part of moving heroin and cocaine from Columbus and distributing it in Athens County since before 2011.

Blackburn says that this represents some, but not all, of the heroin distribution in Athens County.

“Obviously heroin doesn’t come from Athens County, it comes from Central America, and Afghanistan…” Blackburn said. “The individuals accused… There’s someone somewhere who is Fedex and UPS, right?  Someone somewhere is running the transportation business. And without that, we don’t have heroin in Athens County.”

Half-way through the arraignment, Blackburn requested a brief recess from Judge Patrick Lang.

It had come to his attention that John “Michael” Losey, one of the co-defendants had attempted to distribute over a gram of heroin right outside of the courtroom, following Losey’s arraignment.

Blackburn expects more charges and other individuals to be charged following a grand jury investigation into the ring over the next few weeks.

Investigators are still searching for Anthony A. Spears and and Megan D. Vore, who Keller Blackburn says, once caught, will face bonds that reflect their flight risk.

  • Gerald W. Hammon Jr.
    • Held on $100,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • Richard E. Losey
    • Held on $500,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • Kelly Marie Cox
    • Released on own recognizance
  • Cary A. Losey
    • Held on $250,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • Amy Beth Degarmore
    • Held on $100,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • John Michael Losey
    • Held on $500,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • Robert A. Degarmore
    • Held on $250,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • Ronnie L. Degarmore
    • Held on $250,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • Kevin A. Degarmore
    • Held on $250,000 Bond with no 10 percent permitted.
  • Patricia Vore 
    • Held on $50,000 bond with 10 permitted.