A Marietta man charged with trafficking in drugs and possession of heroin will receive addiction treatment instead of prison time, according to an order handed down by Washington County Common Pleas Judge Ed Lane Thursday.
Jason Harper, 31, of 108 Holly St. could have faced a total of two-and-a-half years in prison for the charges which included one fourth-degree felony count of trafficking in buprenorphine, and a fifth-degree felony count of possession of heroin.
Instead he pled guilty to the charges and requested treatment in lieu of a prison sentence.
"Mr. Harper has applied for intervention, and has already been receiving treatment from L&P Services and Dr. (Michael) Brockett," Lane said before granting the request Thursday.
Assistant county prosecutor Kevin Rings said the state has agreed to the intervention request.
"You will be under three years supervision by the court," Lane told Harper. "You will be supervised by an adult probation officer and must submit to random drug testing and you can have no association with felons."
The judge added that Harper is required to submit to a search of his home by a law officer at any time, and officers would not have to obtain a warrant to conduct a search.
Lane also ordered Harper to pay all court costs.
Asked if he was working, Harper told the judge he was currently between jobs, but also noted he has a 3-year-old child to help care for at home.
Harper received the trafficking charge in February, 2010, and a month later was arrested for possession of 4.7 grams of powder heroin.
