SUMMARY: Both say they were led into trafficking by third codefendant
Two Millersburg men charged in connection with a string of drug sales said they were brought into criminal behavior by a third co-defendant.
Ryan J. Mullet, 22, 1167 Wooster Road, and Christopher Rowe, 23, 800 South Washington Street, were sentenced in Holmes County Common Pleas Court to jail time for their roles in three drug sales that also involved codefendant David M. Chaney, 34, 800 South Washington Street, Millersburg.
Mullet was sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret Wednesday July 20 to 180 days in jail on one count of attempted permitting drug abuse. Rowe was sentenced Thursday July 14 to 180 days in jail on one count of trafficking in marijuana.
Mullet was the driver in a Sept. 16 sale, when Chaney sold marijuana to a confidential informant for $50 working with the Holmes County Sheriff?s office. Rowe sold marijuana to the informant on Sept. 29 and Oct. 21. Chaney was charged in the Sept. 29 sale.
Chaney was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of trafficking marijuana in the vicinity of a school, trafficking in marijuana and trafficking in oxycontin.
Attorneys representing Mullet and Rowe said their clients would not have gotten involved in drug trafficking without Chaney.
Christina Smith, representing Mullet, said Mullet drove Chaney to the Sept. 16 sale without knowing the purpose or destination.
?This is a case where (Mullet) was not strong enough to say, no, get out of my car,? Smith said. ?He knows he should have done that now.?
Mullet said he picked Chaney up because it was raining.
?It was raining that day, I said yeah,? Mullet said. ?He wanted to make a stop (at a Millersburg bar) and ended up selling a bag there.?
Mullet, who has past convictions for trafficking in marijuana and DUI, said he is attending substance abuse counseling and is ?doing a lot better?.
Thomas White, representing Rowe, said Rowe was a go-between for Chaney.
?I think it is clear (Rowe) is not the mastermind behind these,? White said. ?His cousin, Mark Chaney, was. (Rowe) was the gofer.?
Rinfret granted Rowe work release and ordered Rowe to pay back the $100 used by the sheriff?s office to make the controlled buys. Rinfret further granted Mullet release from jail for counseling appointments.
