October was a busy month for the Covington County District Attorney’s office as attorneys disposed of nearly 30 cases.

DA Walt Merrell said his office handled some 26 cases in October – including those involving former River Falls Mayor Mary Hixon; convicted child abuser Susan Huggins and admitted conman Michael McIntyre.

Drug cases – 17 in total or 65 percent – made up the bulk of the month’s case load, while another seven were property crimes and two were child and/or sex crimes.

In the 26 cases, 47 percent resulted in prison time for offenders, while 19 percent received probation and another 15 percent entered drug court.

Among those entering a guilty plea during the month were:

• Charles M. Adams, who pleaded to felony driving while under the influence and was sentenced to six years in prison.

• Tabitha Ann Berry, who pleaded to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and entered into Drug Court.

• Thomas Eric Bush, who pleaded to theft of property I and was sentenced 46 months of probation.

• Paula R. Clanton, who pleaded to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 24 months probation.

• William P. Deese, who pleaded to attempted possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 32 months probation.

• Shelia J. Farrow, who pleaded to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and entered into Drug Court.

• Wade Lee Goodson, who pleaded to unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance I and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

• Christopher L. Johns, who pleaded to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He received the same sentence after pleading to the unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance II in a separate case.

• Joshua K. Kozlowski, who pleaded to unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment; however, a probation hearing is set for Dec. 19.

• Robert Lane, who pleaded to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 20 imprisonment.

• Camren D. Marshall, who pleaded to the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. In a separate case, he pleaded to receiving stolen property and was sentenced to three years in prison. Attorney: Gypsy Smith. In a third case, he was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty to burglary III.

• Sherry Bush Padgett, who pleaded to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

• Joseph L. Robinson, who pleaded to identity theft and was sentenced to 24 months probation.

• James P. Sandefur, who pleaded to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance and entered into Drug Court.

• Sabin K. Shreve, who pleaded to the unlawful possession of marijuana I and was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Attorney: Rod Sylvester.

• James L. Ward, who pleaded to the unlawful possession of a controlled substance and entered into Drug Court.

• Eric Wilkerson, who pleaded to sexual abuse of a child under 12 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

• Trevor M. Williams, who pleaded in three separate cases – the first two to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and in the third, to the unlawful possession of marijuana I. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on each; however, a probation hearing is set on Nov. 14.