The number of defendants entering drug court is increasing, according to records showing pleas entered in Covington County Circuit Court in January.

In total, 36 cases were handled by the district attorney’s office during the month. Of those, 14 percent, or five cases, were eligible for participation in the county’s drug court program. There were 21 cases, or 58 percent, that received prison time; and 22 percent, or eight cases, that resulted in probation, while another two cases have probation hearings set.

Also disposed of were six other felony cases that pled to “youthful offender” status – three of which were dismissed on the motion of the state, and the seven others were disposed of with non-felonious dispositions.

Entering pleas were:

• Brian Charles Alley, who pled to possession of marijuana I and entered drug court. Attorney: Grady Lanier.

• Joshua R. Bitzer, who pled to theft of property II and received 31 months of probation. Attorney: Bill Alverson.

• Christopher Earl Blue, who pled guilty to manufacturing of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Attorney: Lloyd Carr.

• Joseph Lamar Burkett, who pled to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Attorney: David Whatley.

• Richard H. Capie, who pled to distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He has a probation hearing set for March. Attorney: Benton Persons.

• Johnny Lee Carthon, who pled to violating the community notification act. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Attorney: Manish Patel.

• Bobby Lee Cheney, who pled to burglary III and was sentenced to five years in prison. Attorney: Trey Burgess.

• Bobby Ray Dorsey, who pled to distribution of a controlled substance and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Joshua Cain Fowler, who pled to receiving stolen property I and was given a 61-month prison sentence. Attorney: Larry Grissett.

• Nicole Marie Fry, who pled to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Attorney: Manish Patel.

• Loyce Edward Garner, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years in prison. He also pled to felony driving under the influence and was given a five-year prison sentence. Attorney: Amy Jones.

• Donald Ray Grimes, who pled to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 15 years in prison; however, he applied for, and was granted, probation for five years. Attorney: Rod Sylvester.

• Rodney Hall, who pled to possession of marijuana I and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Attorney: Sonny James.

• Michael Shane Hammett, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years in prison. Attorney: Larry Grissett.

• Yunus Hasan, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and entered drug court. Attorney: Larry Grissett.

• Audrie Taylor Hemphill, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 65 months in prison. Attorney: Mark Christensen.

• Tresa Ann Holmes, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 32 months of probation. Attorney: Larry Grissett.

• John William Kearns III, who pled to distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Attorney: Diana Mock.

• Penny Miranda Kimbril, who pled to attempted possession of a controlled substance and was given a 15-year prison sentence. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Jackie Lee Kyser, who pled to being a sex offender living at a prohibited address and was given a 15-year prison sentence. Attorney: Mark Christensen.

• Raymond D. Lattimore, who pled to burglary III and was given a six-year prison sentence. Attorney: Diana Mock.

• David R. Mazi, who pled to theft of property II and was sentenced to 31-months of probation. Attorney: Trey Burgess.

• Ivan Nathaniel Pickron, who pled to two separate cases of possession of marijuana I and was given four years of probation in each. Attorney: Trey Burgess

• Luke Popwell, who pled to possession of a controlled substance andwas entered into drug court. Attorney: Corey Bryan.

• Thomas C. Rhodes, who pled to distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to eight years in prison. A probation hearing will be held at a later date. Attorney: Sonny James.

• John W. Ryken, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and entered into drug court. Attorney: Bill Alverson.

• Roy B. Smith, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 32 months of probation. Attorney: Larry Grissett.

• Kasey E. Spooner, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years in prison. Attorney: Bill Alverson.

• Larry Sutley Jr., who to manufacturing of a controlled substance II and was sentenced to five years in prison. Attorney: Benton Persons.

• Dominic Watson, who pled to possession of marijuana I and was given a 10-year prison sentence. Attorney: Deb Smith.

• Rodero D. Williams, who pled to possession of a controlled substance and entered into drug court. Attorney: Corey Bryan.