Court intervention program sees success
Harrison News-Herald Reporter
CADIZ—Despite a recent slip-up, Eric Novak seems to be doing well in the Intervention in Lieu of Conviction program. He has been participating in the program since December, and probation officer Sarah Costine said, “He’s doing well; he’s attending treatment.“
The program allows defendants considered drug dependent to undergo counseling and treatment instead of being sent to jail. If Novak completes the year-long program successfully, his felony in the fifth-degree aggravated possession of drugs charge will be dismissed.
Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Knight pointed out that Novak has not made any payments yet on his fines and court costs.
Novak has been faithfully attending counseling meetings. His only slip-up was a few weeks ago when he tested positive for alcohol. His most recent tests have all been clean, and Judge Hervey encouraged him to remain so.
“It sounds like you’re doing okay, no drugs, that’s good. But you gotta watch the alcohol, too, because they usually go hand in hand. Keep doing the program, keep going to counseling, stay out of trouble, and then start paying off your fines and costs.“
Scio resident Mark Taylor pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a felony in the second degree. Second-degree felonies hold presumed prison sentences of at least two years. Taylor was sentenced to two years at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. This sentence could be increased by another year due to the Reagan Tokes law, which reintroduced indefinite sentencing for some felonies. Taylor will also pay the mandatory minimum fine and have his license suspended for at least one year.
James Hiles pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs. The state’s plea agreement was for two years of community-based controls with a reserved sentence due to Hiles scoring as a high risk on the Ohio Risk Assessment System.
Once he is released from EOCC, he will be under supervision with Carroll and Harrison Counties. Generally, a person can have all their supervision done by one probation office to mitigate the burden of reporting to multiple offices, sometimes more than once a week. Hiles will have to initially check in with both offices and then put in a request to transfer his Harrison County case to Carroll County’s probation office.
Hiles was sentenced to two years of community-based controls and 80 hours of community service with a reserved sentence of 10 months.
