5/3/11 Meth cook gets five years

  • By Nick Sabo
  • May 3, 2011
  • 278
                        
SUMMARY: Sentence includes three years mandatory for illegal manufacture of meth A Millersburg man who was caught in the midst of cooking methamphetamine was sentenced Tuesday May 3 in Holmes County Common Pleas Court. William S. Woodruff, 44, 3591 County Road 58, was sentenced by visiting Common Pleas Judge David Stucki to five years in prison on one count of illegal manufacture of methamphetamine and two counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine. The illegal manufacture of methamphetamine charge is a second-degree felony and carries a mandatory minimum of three years in prison. Woodruff’s attorney, Bing Miller, asked for a sentence closer to that of Woodruff’s co-defendant, Brandy S. Sinnett, 37, Millersburg, who received 12 months. Sinnett pleaded to seven counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, fourth-degree misdemeanors that each carried up to 18 months in prison. Woodruff and Sinnett were charged after selling meth to a confidential informant seven times between Sept. 20 and Oct. 19. A search warrant was executed Oct. 22 at their County Road 58 residence, where Woodruff was found in the process of cooking a batch of meth. Sinnett was not home when the search warrant was served. The sales totaled $785. Miller said Woodruff and Sinnett were “equally involved” in the selling and manufacture of meth. He said Woodruff has made efforts to turn his life around since he was arrested, turning to support in a local church. Prosecuting Attorney Steve Knowling said his office was unaware of the level of involvement between Woodruff and Sinnett until after both had pleaded to charges. According to Knowling, Sinnett told adult probation authorities conducting a presentence investigation that she and Woodruff were cooking daily. Knowling said Woodruff made similar statements, though “not in as great detail” as Sinnett. “When (Sinnett) pleaded we didn’t have that information,” Knowling said. “In hindsight, they were equally involved.” However, Knowling asked that Woodruff get the mandatory three years plus additional incarceration for the trafficking offenses. “The trafficking charges are serious offenses in themselves”, Knowling said. Stucki noted that the court received several letters in support for Woodruff, including one from his pastor. Stucki said he hopes Woodruff will continue to seek help while incarcerated. “You’re going to be spending some time in the department of corrections and rehabilitation. There is a reason for (the title), part of it involves rehabilitation,” Stucki said. “Suffice to say, you’re going to be living by the rules for a long time.” Stucki further ordered Woodruff to pay a $2,500 fine and restitution of $785.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load