A recent grand jury indicted Adam Kaetzel on a series of drug charges from nearly 15 months ago.
The delay, said Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips, was caused by the amount of time it takes the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification to test suspected drugs. He said suspected drugs need to be tested to verify what they are before someone can be charged with having something illegal.
Phillips said that “due to the amount of drug activity in the state of Ohio,” it can be months before BCI is able to test suspected drugs.
The Ohio Attorney General’s office is working to help local prosecutors eliminate that delay. Union County has been selected to participate in a new rapid drug testing pilot program.
The attorney general will provide local prosecutors with a handheld, battery-powered, mass spectrometry device capable of providing a rapid chemical and biomolecular analysis of substances.
According to the machine’s manufacturer, the MX908 device, “provides investigators the ability to quickly and reliably detect and identify a broad range of fentanyls, opioids and amphetamines with high confidence, and at trace levels, which drastically minimize exposure to risk.”
“The MX908 devices are a breakthrough in narcotics investigations,” BCI Superintendent Joe Morbitzer said in a written statement. “We have been able to deploy the devices statewide to assist task forces and agencies in investigations. Not only do the devices provide instant preliminary results but, more importantly, reduces the risk of exposure to our staff.”
Phillips said the data-based evidence also allows officers to move forward with charges. He said other available field or rapid techniques can give officers an idea of what they have, but are not accurate enough to be used in court.
“The majority of our cases are drugs or drug related so we will be able to use this a lot,” Phillips said.
The prosecutor said this program will provide benefits for his office as well as the BCI testing lab.
“We are hopeful this will free up their lab to conduct testing on higher level cases and it will speed up the process of prosecuting our cases,” Phillips said.
He said the quicker tests will also benefit the community. He said it is important to get help for drug users and get drug traffickers off the street.
“Either way, the sooner, the better,” Phillips said. “The longer these people are out there, the more likelihood they will continue, either using or trafficking, and the greater likelihood that someone will die — either they will die or someone they sell to will die.”
Kaetzel, 29, of 11211 Hoskins Road, Richwood is charged with two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, two counts of possession of heroin and one count each of aggravated trafficking in drugs, possession of cocaine and possession of a Fentanyl-related compound.
Phillips said Kaetzel was under investigation by the Union County Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Task Force. He said that at 1:07 a.m. April 25, police were contacted by an individual who said someone was pounding on the door. When police arrived, they found Kaetzel, barefoot, sweating and pounding on the door. Investigators found nearly three quarters of a gram of heroin and 3.4 grams of methamphetamine.
On April 29, he was arrested again, this time with more than 35 grams of methamphetamine.
“That is a significant amount of methamphetamines,” Phillips said, noting that one gram offers about three uses.
Laura Leigh Jones, 35, of Sabina was also arrested in the incident, charged with possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking of drugs.
In January, police responded to an emergency call of a suspected overdose. When they arrived, they found Kaetzel and took him to Memorial Hospital for treatment. Investigators found cocaine and other drugs at the scene.
If convicted, Kaetzel could face as many as 21 years in prison. Jones could face as many as 17 years in prison.
Also indicted was:
– Shannon Douglas Detillion, 40, of Marion. Detillion is charged with one count each of aggravated possession of drugs and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.
According to court documents, as part of a Jan. 24 traffic stop, investigators found Detillion had methamphetamine and a semi-automatic handgun.
If convicted, Detillion could face as many as 30 months in prison and be forced to forfeit the gun.
– Dean L. Everly, 59, of 16421 W. Darby Road. Everly is charged with one count of felonious assault stemming from an alleged activity between September 2017 and September 2019.
– Richard A. Monroe, 35, of 102 W. Ottawa St., Richwood. Monroe is charged with one count each of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.
According to court documents, on May 6, Monroe took the keys then a vehicle without asking the owner. The vehicle owner tried to call and text Monroe asking him to bring it back. Monroe kept the vehicle more than two days.
If convicted on all charges, Monroe could face as many as 30 months in prison.
– Israel Caleb Morgan, 19, of Columbus.
Morgan is charged with one count of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, stemming from a June 17 incident. Morgan was driving on U.S. 33 and was stopped by troopers for allegedly not driving in the marked lanes and driving without a driver’s license.
If convicted, Morgan could face as many as 18 months in prison.
– Daniel George Miller, 34, of Bellefontaine. Miller is charged with one count each of aggravated possession of drugs and illegal conveyance of drugs stemming from a Sept. 17 incident involving methamphetamines.
If convicted, Miller could face as many as six years in prison.
– Robert Lee Hamilton, 30, of 57 Cypress Dr., Marysville.
Hamilton is charged with one count of tampering with evidence. According to court documents, between January and April, Hamilton was under investigation for crime and he allegedly tried to destroy or alter evidence in the case.
If convicted, Hamilton could face as many as five years in prison.
– Lee A. Alderson, 52, of 25948 Route 31, Raymond.
Alderson is charged with one count of violating a protection order. According to court documents, on May 10, a Richwood woman had a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order against Alderson. He allegedly went to the woman’s home and slowly drove around, watching the woman’s home while she was there.
If convicted, Alderson could face as many as 12 months in prison.
– Tyler Nathaniel Treen, 24, of Kenton.
Treen is charged with one count each of aggravated possession of drugs and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.
According to court documents, on Jan. 10, Treen was driving west on U.S. 33 and swerved over the white line several times, at one point almost hitting a disabled vehicle on the side of the road.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop. As part of the stop, investigators learned Treen had a loaded .38 revolver.
“Tyler attempted to pull the loaded firearm from his waist band on deputies,” according to court documents.
Treen also allegedly had methamphetamines, Fentanyl and cocaine.
If convicted, Treen could face more than six years in prison.
– Alicia Kay Hornsby, 39, of Dublin. Hornsby is charged with one count each of possession of cocaine and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from a Feb. 20 incident.
– Sarah Ashley Alvarado, 22, of Galion. Alvarado is charged with one count aggravated possession of drugs stemming from a Jan. 24 incident. If convicted, Alvarado could face as many as 12 months in prison.