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Woman sentenced for drug trafficking

The first of two sentencing hearings for a pair charged with trafficking drugs was held Wednesday in Washington County Common Pleas Court.

Natalie Benton, 33, of 111 N. Hart St., Apt. 8, Marietta, pleaded guilty on March 2 to fourth-degree felony trafficking in heroin and fifth-degree felony of permitting drug abuse. She was sentenced to 90 days in the Washington County Jail Wednesday by Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi for the trafficking offense and two years community control for both offenses. She received four days credit for time served and will be sent for treatment after 30 days.

Benton and her Marietta Mills Apartments neighbor, Morgan B. Wynn, 26, of 115 N. Hart St., were both arrested Jan. 26 after law enforcement searched their residences in January 2017 and found methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Both Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Derkin and defense attorney Rolf Baumgartel agreed that Benton was a drug user who was in need of treatment, though they disagreed on the length of sentencing.

“She helped the other defendant, Morgan Wynn, to be trafficking all over the place. But I do want Ms. Benton to get help. I do believe she’s remorseful,” Derkin said. “With that, I would recommend 120 days with rehab as soon as 90 days.”

Baumgartel said that because Benton had no previous criminal record other than driving offenses and has a minor child who was recently diagnosed with autism, a more appropriate penalty would be jail time with rehab after 30 days.

“I understand it’s a trafficking case but realistically what we have here is Ms. Benton allowed people to sell in exchange for drugs because she has a drug problem,” he said. “It’s trafficking but just to keep her own habit going.”

Benton spoke on her own behalf and apologized to the court.

“I admit my mistakes. They affected my family and I disappointed my child,” she said.

Wynn pleaded guilty March 2 to aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony; improperly handling a firearm, a fourth-degree felony; and aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony. He is due to be sentenced at 8:15 a.m. Monday.

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