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Posted: 7:51 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Members of alleged $3 million drug ring appear in court

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Members of alleged $3 million drug ring appear in court photo
Gary Stelzer
Members of alleged $3 million drug ring appear in court

By Denise G. Callahan

Staff Writer

LEBANON —

All six adult defendants in the $3 million drug bust that involved a Mason High School student pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Wednesday.

Justin Baker, of Hamilton, who is allegedly involved in a huge Warren County drug ring, posted bond just hours after he was arraigned in Common Pleas Court.

Baker, 32, appeared in court Wednesday with five of the other adult defendants, who allegedly worked with a 17-year-old Mason High School student to supply marijuana to students from Mason and Kings school districts.

Baker’s attorney Charlie M. Rittgers told Magistrate Andrew Hasselbach during the arraignment his client’s parents planned to bail their son out of jail. Baker’s mother, Janet, is the superintendent of Hamilton City Schools. Hasselbach set Baker’s bond at $25,000. The jail confirmed bond had been posted and Baker would be fitted with a GPS monitor. None of the other defendants had posted bond, according to a jail officer late Wednesday afternoon.

Assistant Prosecutor Anne Tamashasky asked the magistrate not to let any of the defendants out on an own recognizance bond.

“Due to the gravity of the offenses and the mandatory jail time that they could face should they be convicted, we would object to an OR bond,” she said.

Hasselbach set bonds for all of the adult defendants who were in court and they received similar amounts, except for Cody Lampe whose bond was set at $50,000. The 31-year-old from Cincinnati faces the most charges with 10 counts of engaging in corrupt activity and a host of drug related charges. His wife Stacy Lampe, 28, received a $25,000 bond at the urging of her attorney Ed Kathman.

“I don’t believe she has any criminal record, she’s 28 years old, they do have five children,” he said. “They have made temporary arrangements for them since Monday, when they turned themselves in… She really has a great need to get back with her children and I don’t know if Mr. Lampe is going to be able to make his bond.”

Hasselbach imposed a $25,000 bond on two other defendants, Allen Honeycutt and William Sparks. Gerald Peele, 20, of Mason received a $15,000 bond. One adult defendant, Michael Lopez, has yet to be arrested or turn himself in. The 17-year-old Mason High School student is not being detained, he is scheduled to appear in juvenile court July 31.

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