×

Cutler woman sentenced for selling cocaine

CHAD PLAUCHE-ADKINS The Marietta Times Susan Harvey awaits sentencing Thursday morning in Washington County Common Pleas Court.

A Cutler woman was sentenced to 60 days in jail and addiction treatment Thursday for trafficking in cocaine.

Susan Harvey, 44, of 11722 State Route 555, apologized before her sentencing Thursday before Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi.

Harvey had pleaded guilty on July 20 to two counts of cocaine trafficking stemming from a 2015 arrest. Cocaine trafficking is a fifth-degree felony and she faced up to a year confinement for each charge.

Kerenyi sentenced Harvey to 60 days confinement at the Washington County Jail and three years of community control. Harvey was also ordered to be transferred to Oriana House in Marietta to receive treatment for her addictions in lieu of her time in jail as soon as space becomes available.

Kerenyi said he could have sentenced her to a prison term due to her being arrested for these crimes while on probation. He also used her past criminal record as a reference for sentencing.

“You have a slight criminal history…all misdemeanors and most of them are just traffic violations,” said Kerenyi of Harvey’s record.

When asked by Kerenyi if she was still using drugs, Harvey said she was off hard drugs but was addicted to marijuana.

“You’re physically addicted to marijuana?” Kerenyi asked.

” I use it in when I feel like I’m going to (use harder drugs),” said Harvey.

Kerenyi went on to explain the consequences use of marijuana could have to her sentence.

“They do drug tests (at Oriana House),” he said.

The judge went on to say that if she fails one of those drug tests she could face the time in jail that her charges originally called for.

Washington County Assistant Prosecutor David Silwani represented the state for the sentencing Thursday as a stand-in for the main prosecutor of the case, Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Derkin, who was attending a conference out of town. Via telephone he voiced his concerned about Harvey attending a rehabilitation clinic.

“Rehab is great for addicts. But she is guilty of trafficking, which is a fifth-degree felony. Putting a trafficker in with a bunch of addicts is introducing them to a new client base,” said Derkin.

Derkin said he has faith in the reasoning behind Kerenyi’s sentence, though.

” I trust the judge. He is well thought out,” he said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today