Morning Journal file Drugs and money were taken in a raid on a Lisbon home that led to the arrest and conviction of William Martin II.

LISBON — A Lisbon drug dealer reportedly with ties to Mexico pleaded no contest on Monday to several charges related to the items found in a West Washington Street home on March 28, 2017.

While a large number of potential jurors waited in the hallway outside of the courtroom of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam, William E. Martin II, 39, agreed to plead no contest to some of the charges he was facing, charges which because of the amounts of drugs involved could mean a lengthy prison sentence.

Martin pleaded no contest to trafficking in heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine, possession of heroin and having weapons while under a disability. Additionally, he pleaded no contest to specifications labeling him as a major drug offender who had $57,277 in drug-related proceeds in his possession when the Drug Task Force and Lisbon officers raided the home.

Chief Assistant County Prosecutor John Gamble and Assistant County Prosecutor Ryan Weikart said after the hearing Martin had drugs valued in the tens of thousands including cocaine valued at $100,000 if it was sold at the bulk amount.

He had in excess of 400 grams of cocaine, more than 180 grams of heroin and 1.5 kilograms of marijuana.

Gamble said among the evidence was at least one photo showing Martin with at least three kilograms of cocaine at one time. He said they also had a border agent able to testify that Martin had traveled to Mexico within two or three weeks of the raid at the house here in Lisbon.

Additionally, Gamble said a chemist who tested the drugs at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations facility for all of northeast Ohio, including Cleveland and Akron, said it was rare for her to see those amounts of drugs found even in big city raids.

“We’re pleased with the outcome,” Gamble said. “This really was a big deal. A major drug dealer has been taken off the street.”

At the time of sentencing, Gamble said he plans to provide the judge with lots of details about the drug activity Martin was involved in here.

Gamble said he wanted to recognize the fine work of the task force, DTF Director Lt. Brian McLaughlin, sheriff’s Deputy Brett Grabman and others who worked the case at the time of the arrest and then gave up their time all last week, including throughout the past weekend, to help prepare for the case.

For two of the charges, possession of cocaine and heroin, could mean sentences of 11 years each in prison. The other three charges carry maximum sentences of three years each. Additionally, there are potential fines totaling $70,000. Sentencing is set for Oct. 12.

After Martin pleaded, Gamble and Washam thanked the prospective jury for their part in the process before they were dismissed.

djohnson@mojonews.com