CORBIN —
April 14, 2012.pdf
By Carl Keith Greene/Staff Writer
James Meradith was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove Friday morning to two years and nine months.
On Dec. 29, 2011, he pleaded guilty on one count of an indictment.
Meradith, 35, was part of a drug ring that included former Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge and drug pusher Charles Fritts, who on March 28, was sentenced to seven years and three months.
Meradith was included in the indictment regarding Charles Fritts’ brothers Doyle Stan-Boy Fritts and Jerry Lee Fritts.
Of the four counts in that indictment including Meradith, three were dismissed, leaving him charged with distributing oxycodone.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dobson suggested in his opening comments that Meradith’s sentence be in the lower part of the possible sentence.
He described Meradith as an “articulate young man.”
Meradith’s lawyer Willis Coffey explained as he opened his case that two cooperating witnesses bought some oxycodone from Meradith when Charles Fritts was absent.
Meradith had already spent about 12 months at the Pulaski County Detention Center, Coffey said and noted Meradith has a good past including college experience.
Van Tatenhove, who had said Meradith could have been sentenced to between 46 and 57 months, sentenced Meradith to two years and nine months with three years of supervised release.
Meradith asked to be kept at the Pulaski site if possible.
Whitley County Sheriff Investigation
Meradith sentenced for Hodge drug ring
- Whitley County Sheriff Investigation
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Fritts handed 15-year sentence
“You didn’t say ‘no.’” That’s what U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove told Doyle “Stan Boy” Fritts Thursday, who was found guilty in February of several charges related to a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone with his brothers.
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Fritts sentenced to 15 years
Doyle "Stan Boy" Fritts, found guilty in February of several charges related to a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone with his brothers, received a 15-year sentence today from U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove.
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Whitley Sheriff’s Office receives good audit
Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell received a good report from the Kentucky state auditor’s office Thursday.
2012 Whitley Sheriff's Audit.pdf -
911 director not indicted in Lawrence Hodge case
A Whitley County Grand jury did not indict Whitley County 911 Director Chuck Davis on a charge related to missing money when Davis worked as a detective under former sheriff Lawrence Hodge.
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Whitley Grand Jury hears evidence on 911 Director
The Whitley County Grand Jury heard evidence concerning 911 Director Chuck Davis during its meeting on Sept. 5, but continued the case to be investigated further, according to court documents.
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Audit of former sheriff Hodge’s office released
An audit of former Whitley County sheriff Lawrence Hodge’s 2010 tax settlement account has been released by Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen.
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Hodge pretrial conference postponed
A pre-trial conference set for Monday for former Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge has been postponed due to concerns of the Kentucky Bureau of Prisons, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble.
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‘60 Minutes’ to feature former Times-Tribune editor, reporter
Watch the 60 Minutes interview - click here
A “60 Minutes” interview with a former Times-Tribune managing editor and a former reporter who helped uncover corruption in former Whitley County sheriff Lawrence Hodge’s office is set to air Sunday.
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Meradith sentenced for Hodge drug ring
April 14, 2012.pdf
James Meradith was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove Friday morning to two years and nine months. On Dec. 29, 2011, he pleaded guilty on one count of an indictment. -
Fritts gets seven years, three months in prison
Charles F. Fritts Jr. was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove Wednesday afternoon.
- More Whitley County Sheriff Investigation Headlines
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Fritts handed 15-year sentence
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