4/28/11 Meth cook gets eight years
SUMMARY: Meth sales, cooking occurred within 700 feet of elementary schoolA Holmesville man was sentenced Thursday April 28 to eight years in prison on methamphetamine manufacture and trafficking charges.
Troy D. Lastohkein, 44, 101 Water St., was sentenced by Holmes County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert D. Rinfret on charges of illegal manufacture of methamphetamine in the vicinity of a school, endangering children and aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine. The illegal manufacture and endangering children charges carried a combined mandatory sentence of five years in prison.
The charges stem from Oct. 31 - Nov. 3. According to court records, Lastohkein sold meth on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 to a confidential informant working with Holmes County Sheriff’s deputies. Lastohkein’s residence was raided Nov. 3. The search turned up a quantity of meth packaged in individual baggies, as well as evidence that Lastohkein was cooking meth, Prosecuting Attorney Steve Knowling said. Lastohkein’s residence is located 700 feet from Holmesville Elementary, and two minor children were residing at the home.
Shortly after pleading to the charges April 5, Lastohkein tested positive in a drug screen by adult probation authorities for meth. Rinfret said probation became suspicious when, during a presentence investigation interview, Lastohkein “crashed” and fell asleep.
“(They) thought you were stoned in the office, you actually fell asleep during the presentence investigation process,” Rinfret said.
Lastohkein’s attorney, Jeff Kellogg, said Lastohkein began using meth to enhance his performance at work.
“My client got into the meth culture because of what was going on with his family, his work life,” Kellogg said. “He didn’t have the energy for it. He found meth to be a cheap and effective way...(to) work 12, 16 hours a day. It took over his life.”
In addition to the prison time, Rinfret ordered Lastohkein pay a $7,500 fine and re-imburse the sheriff’s office for $120 used in the two drug sales.