A drug-addled passenger in a company construction truck that was the subject of an impaired-driving stop pleaded guilty recently in Logan County Common Pleas Court.
Penny Wilgus, 38, of Rushsylvania, pleaded guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, and endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Wilgus was arrested alongside Patricia Haas, 30, of Lakeview, following an Aug. 7 traffic stop initiated by Washington Township Police around 7:12 p.m. near State Route 708 and Township Road 61. Haas was operating a Lewis Construction truck and was pulled over for a marked lanes violation. Wilgus was a passenger in the vehicle, along with two small children.
Officers observed signs of drug use and asked Wilgus to exit the vehicle. As she did, she dropped a pipe used to consume crack cocaine onto the ground. A K9 unit from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office was deployed and alerted to the presence of illegal drugs. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed crack cocaine and fentanyl in the purses of both Haas and Wilgus.
Both women were taken into custody and transported to the Logan County Jail. Logan County Children’s Services responded, and the children were turned over to family members.
Wilgus is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12 following a presentence investigation. Haas was sentenced in November to five years of community control, a $375 fine, participation in the ARC program, a one-year Class Two driver’s license suspension, and court costs. She received 57 days of jail-time credit.
Others sentenced were:
Joseph Smalley, 53, of Belle Center, was sentenced to three years of community control for illegal conveyance of drugs onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony. He was also ordered to pay all court costs and was credited with four days of jail time served.
The charges are the result of a May 25 traffic stop by deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s office. Smalley was initially pulled over for driving with a cracked windshield and expired tags. Deputies noted that he appeared overly nervous and asked if he had anything illegal in the vehicle. Smalley initially denied having contraband but then handed over a small amount of marijuana from his pocket.
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a straw and a container with a white powdery substance, which Smalley admitted was cocaine. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Logan County Jail.
Upon arrival at the jail, Smalley was reminded to notify jail staff of any illegal items in his possession. He insisted he had nothing else, but a search by jail personnel revealed a small baggie of white powdery substance in his front pants pocket.
Smalley was initially charged with possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, and illegal conveyance.
Rodney Hall, 56, of Russells Point: pleaded guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony. He was sentenced to two years of community control and ordered to pay all court costs. Hall received credit for three days served in jail.