Dunlap

LISBON — A Columbus man pleaded guilty to separate charges involving bringing drugs into Columbiana County and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Hashim A. Dunlap, 37, also known as Shane, had pleaded guilty on May 1 to a third degree felony possession of drugs charge having about 6.66 grams of heroin in a mini fridge on Nov. 7, 2017. The charge included a forfeiture specification for having $2,085 with him.

However, Assistant County Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones said when Dunlap was in Columbiana County to offer that plea in May, he again was caught with drugs inside a bag that contained his clothes, his court documents and a safe. Inside the safe was digital scales with residue from three different drugs. Additionally, he was found with $6,000, believed to be drug-related proceeds.

On Monday, Dunlap pleaded guilty to the prosecutor’s information on the three counts of possession of drugs and was immediately sentenced on both his previous felony charge and the three new charges.

Dunlap’s defense attorney Chris Amato asked Judge Megan Bickerton to consider placing Dunlap on community control, noting he works at a company making coat hangers, pays his child support and takes care of his mother who lives with him.

Jones asked for the 18-month sentence, which was the same sentence she had been planning to request for the first charge before Dunlap picked up the additional charges.

“I want to apologize for the whole incident,” Dunlap said before sentencing. “I’ve gotten myself clean and I’m working at being a good citizen.”

However Bickerton questioned him about why he had continued to bring drugs with him when he came to Columbiana County to plead in May. She asked if he was using the drugs or bringing them here to do some business while he was in town.

Bickerton reminded Dunlap that Jones’ request for an 18-month term, despite the additional charges, was “a gift.” In addition to the prison sentence, Bickerton fined Dunlap $5,000 and the $10,000 will be forfeited.

djohnson@mojonews.com