The Athens County Sheriff's Office arrested seven people Wednesday as a part of a countywide drug sweep for what the Sheriff considers to be the number one drug in the county - heroin.
Officers arrested Steven R. Spears, of 61 Summit St., Glouster; Jeffrey W. Degarmore of 8084 Old SR 78, Glouster; Seth Weaver of 6 Harrison St., Amesville; Melissa Rutter of 22 ½ Ball Drive, Athens; Glenn Rutter of 9801 Monserat Ridge Road, Millfield; Ashley D. Williams of 27 Republic Ave., Glouster; and James L. Smith of 8662 Haines Ridge Road of Athens on charges relating to the possession and trafficking of heroin and other narcotics.
The U.S. Marshal's Office, the Adult Parole Authority and other local agencies assisted in the arrests, according to a news release.
Although none of the arrested are major drug dealers in the county, Sheriff Pat Kelly said anyone dealing or possessing drugs runs the risk of being caught.
I don't have a top 10 list. At this point
every person dealing can consider themselves on my list of people that we're after Kelly said.
Spears, 45, is charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking and two counts of aggravated possession of drugs. Degarmore, 44, is also charged with aggravated trafficking of drugs. Weaver, 27, is charged with two counts of aggravated possession of drugs.
Melissa Rutter, 29, Glenn Rutter, 31, and James Smith 29, are charged with one count of possession and one count of trafficking heroin each. Williams, 24, is charged with trafficking heroin.
The sheriff's department's method for catching drug dealers consists of three phases: enforcement, education and prevention, Kelly said.
The plan is the same as it was when I stepped into the office Jan. 5 2009
Kelly said.
Spears, Weaver and Williams all are free after posting bond. At press time, Melissa and Glenn Rutter, Degarmore and Smith remained in the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
All seven are scheduled to appear in court within the next two months.
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Libby Cunningham
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