News
Three Athens County Former Felons Headed To Prison
By: Tom Hodson
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Three Athens County felons have been sentenced to prison after violating conditions of their community control from earlier convictions.
Joshua L. Reed, 22, of Athens was sentenced by Athens County Common Pleas Judge L. Alan Goldsberry to four years and 11 months in the state penal system.
Reed was previously convicted of two counts of breaking and entering and one count of receiving stolen property in February 2011. He was placed on community control, according to Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn.
However, on January 27, 2013, Athens City Police attempted to stop Reed for a traffic stop. He fled from police in a stolen vehicle and later on foot, according to Blackburn. He entered a guilty plea to failure to comply with a police order and receiving stolen property. The second conviction prompted the prison sentence.
Goldsberry also sentenced Richard K. Lee to 12 months in prison for obstructing justice. Lee also was given five years of community control for two counts of possession of drugs. His community control on earlier charges of possession of heroin and aggravated possession of drugs will continue after he is released from prison, so that Lee can obtain drug rehab treatment.
Most recently, Lee had Buprenorphine and Alprazolam in his possession. Lee, along with his wife, also assisted hiding their juvenile son from law enforcement officers after he escaped from a detention facility in Nelsonville, according to Blackburn. This constituted obstruction of justice. The charges were brought by the Glouster Police Department.
Justin Paul Hedges, 30, of Coolville, Ohio will be spending 12 months in the state prison system for violating his community control provisions from a December 2011 conviction of theft from the elderly.
Most recently, Hedges had additional violations of possession of Methadone, breaking and entering, and theft.
In June, Hedges entered a residence in Coolville without permission and was found in possession of several tools, tool sets, saws, and “miscellaneous automobile parts,” according to Prosecutor Blackburn.
His arrests were the results of dual investigations by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.