Barker and Hay among 17 sentenced in Knox County Common Pleas Court in October

MOUNT VERNON — There were 17 people sentenced in Knox County Common Pleas Court in October.

According to court documents, Judge Richard Wetzel ordered the following sentences:

Oct. 8

• Terry T. Barker, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony and to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter with a specification, a first-degree felony.

Barker was sentenced to a mandatory indefinite term of imprisonment (10 to 15 years) on amended count one, as well as a consecutive term of three years for the firearm specification on amended count one, and 30 months on count two. The defendant received credit for 625 days served.

Barker also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine, a third-degree felony, and one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

Barker was sentenced to 54 months in prison, to be served consecutively with the previous sentencing.

• Kenneth E. Sweet, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony.

Sweet was sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of 11 months on count one with credit for 88 days served toward his sentence. The defendant must also pay $11,625 in restitution to the alleged victim.

• Brice Hay, of Fredericktown, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder and one count of murder, both unclassified felonies.

Hay was sentenced to serve a mandatory term of life with parole eligibility after 20 years, with 301 days served toward his sentenced. The defendant must also register as a violent offender.

• Christopher L. Starmer, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs.

Starmer was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and 19 days in the Knox County Jail with credit for 19 days served. The defendant must also submit to an out-patient drug-and-alcohol assessment and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a term of drug and alcohol use monitoring, obtain and maintain full time employment and obtain a general education diploma.

• Heather D. Stein, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and one count of endangering children, both first-degree misdemeanors. Stein also pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree felony count of possession of drugs. Another count of endangering children and a failure to maintain reasonable control (a minor misdemeanor) were dismissed.

Stein was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and three days in the Knox County Jail with credit for three days served on count one, 60 days in jail with credit for 60 days served on count two, and 180 days in jail with credit for 92 days served on count four. The defendant must also pay a mandatory fine of $565 on count one, be subject to a mandatory operator’s license suspension of 3 years from Jan, 10, 2024, and have no jailable offenses for 1 year.

• Kiara F. Johnson, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony.

Johnson was sentenced to serve a one-year term of community control and 180 days in the Knox County Jail with credit for 169 days served. The defendant must also submit to an out-patient drug and alcohol assessment and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a term of drug and alcohol use monitoring and obtain and maintain full time employment.

Oct. 22

• Raymond E. Garrison, Jr., of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Garrison, Jr. was sentenced to serve a two-year term of monitored time and 105 days in the Knox County Jail, with credit for 105 days served. The defendant must have no jailable offenses for two years.

Garrison also pled guilty to another count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

He was sentenced to serve a two year term of monitored time and 249 days in the Knox County Jail, with credit for 129 days served.

• Ray W. Toller, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Toller was sentenced to serve two-year term of community control and 180 days in the Knox County Jail with credit for 42 days served, to be suspended on the condition that the defendant enter into and successfully complete the Mended Reeds residential treatment program, submit to an out-patient drug-and-alcohol assessment, and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a term of drug-and-alcohol use monitoring, obtain and maintain full-time employment.

Toller also pled guilty to another count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

He was sentenced to a two-year term of community control and 128 days in the Knox County Jail with credit for 128 days served.

• Brandy T. Baker, of Nashville, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony.

Baker was sentenced to serve a definite term of imprisonment of 18 months on count one, with credit for 12 days served.

• Rodney T. Strong, of Danville, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. A forfeiture specification to count one was dismissed.

Strong was sentenced to serve a one-year term of monitored time, to pay restitution in the amount of $7,150 to USAA Insurance and have no jailable offenses for one year.

• David A. Darr, of Butler, pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a fourth-degree felony.

Darr was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and two days in the Knox County Jail, with credit for two days served. The defendant is subject to a mandatory operator’s license suspension of three years from Oct. 22, 2026 and must submit to an out-patient drug-and-alcohol assessment, and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a behavioral health assessment, and comply with any recommended treatment plan, obtain and maintain full-time employment and obtain a general education diploma.

• Gavin S. Swoape, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to a lesser count of attempted strangulation, a fourth-degree felony.

Swoape was sentenced to serve a definite term of imprisonment of 17 months on amended count one, with credit for 194 days served along with future days while awaiting transportation to the appropriate institution.

Swoape also pleaded guilty to a lesser count of burglary, a third-degree felony. A third-degree misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief was dismissed.

Swoape was sentenced to serve a definite term of imprisonment of 18 months on amended count one, with credit for 182 days served toward his sentence, along with future days while awaiting transportation to the appropriate institution.

Swoape will serve the two sentencings consecutively.

• Sarah L. Pillow, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Pillow was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and180 days in the Knox County Jail, with credit for 110 days served, to be suspended on the condition that the defendant enter into and successfully complete the Mended Reeds residential treatment program, submit to an out-patient drug-and-alcohol assessment, and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a term of drug-and-alcohol use monitoring, obtain and maintain full-time employment, and comply with any after DARE program.

• Matthew C. Woody, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies. A fourth-degree felony charge of possession of fentanyl-related compound was dismissed.

Woody was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and 180 days in the Knox County Jail with credit for 67 days served, to be suspended on the condition that the defendant enter into and successfully complete the CROSSWAEH Community Based Correctional Facility treatment program, submit to an out-patient drug-and-alcohol assessment, and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a term of drug-and-alcohol use monitoring, obtain and maintain full-time employment and comply with any requirements of the CBCF program.

Oct. 29

• Johnathan R. Zimelis, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Zimelis was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and seven days in the Knox County Jail with credit for seven days served. The defendant must also submit to an out-patient drug and alcohol assessment and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a term of drug-and-alcohol use monitoring, and obtain and maintain full-time employment.

• Jarred T. Baldwin, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fourth-degree felony, one count of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor, and one count of safecracking, a fourth-degree felony.

Baldwin was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and 181 days in the Knox County Jail with credit for 181 days served, submit to an out-patient drug-and-alcohol assessment, and comply with any recommended treatment plan, submit to a term of drug-and-alcohol use monitoring, and obtain and maintain full-time employment.

• Donald R. Kennedy, Jr., of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Kennedy, Jr. was sentenced to serve a two-year term of community control and182 days in the Knox County Jail with credit for 92 day served, to be suspended on the condition that the defendant enter into and successfully complete the Day One residential-treatment program, submit to an out-patient drug-and-alcohol assessment, and comply with any treatment plan, submit to a term of drug-and-alcohol use monitoring, obtain and maintain full-time employment and obtain a general education diploma.