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LISBON -- An East Liverpool man found carrying a box with more than a $1,000 in cash and 63 grams of heroin inside pleaded guilty to a first-degree felony possession of drugs charge in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Jajuan A. McKeithen, 42, Lincoln Avenue, East Liverpool, was charged after he was stopped for reportedly jay walking across the street on June 8 and had the box in his possession at the time. The box was placed on an East Liverpool police cruiser so police could search McKeithen. However, McKeithen reportedly grabbed the box off the hood of the cruiser during a pat down search and attempted to run. Patrolman Christopher Green grabbed McKeithen causing the box and money to fly through the air.
The $1,061 found is believed to have been obtained for the purchase or through the sale of heroin.
Due to the amount of heroin involved, the charge is a first-degree felony. Chief Assistant County Prosecutor John Gamble said he will ask Judge Scott Washam to consider a six-year prison term at the time of sentencing. The charge could carry a maximum prison sentence of 11 years. Gamble noted a prison term is mandatory.
McKeithen is already serving time at the Belmont Correctional Institution for an unrelated case. His defense attorney, Edward Gillison Jr., said he plans to ask Washam to consider running sentence concurrent with the time McKeithen is serving at this time.
A presentencing investigation updated report was ordered, which will reportedly be started in the next week, and then McKeithen will be returned to Belmont Correctional Institution pending his sentencing hearing on May 12.