SMITH

Common Pleas Judge John Vavra this week handed down what a prosecutor believes is the longest drug-related sentence ever imposed in Belmont County.

Cory Julius Smith, 32, of Cleveland, was set to go to trial next week, but on Thursday he instead entered guilty pleas to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both felonies.

Smith was sentenced Monday to 11 years for drug possession and the assault of two police officers. Vavra on Thursday added four and a half more years, to be served consecutively with his present term in prison, for a total of 15 1/2 years.

According to Belmont County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan, this marks the longest total drug-related sentence ever imposed in Belmont County.

Smith’s case stemmed from an attempted arrest by sheriff’s deputies and Bellaire police. During the trial, officers testified that Smith had drugs and threw the drugs under the vehicle. A struggle ensued and one officer was bitten. More than 20 grams of drugs were found and that Smith escaped in that encounter. He was arrested on a warrant in November of 2018.

Flanagan said the trafficking charges were result of controlled drug buys.