MANSFIELD — Charles R. McCoy, 64, was sentenced to 32 years in prison Thursday for, as Richland County Court of Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson described, essentially running an illegal pharmacy from his Mansfield home.
McCoy faced a jury starting Monday after he pleaded not guilty to 15 counts brought against him from the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office.
The indictment against McCoy stemmed from a METRICH search warrant of his house on 1533 Maxwell Drive which recovered 140 grams of heroin, 77 grams of cocaine and numerous prescription pills including strips of suboxone — which is used to treat narcotic addictions.
The drugs were believed to have been bought in Detroit.
Fentanyl was found to be in some of the heroin analyzed by Mansfield Police Department Forensic Scientist Tony Tabasco.
Fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opiate, has recently been linked to several overdose deaths in the community.
The indictment alleged McCoy was in possession of and trafficked in illicit drugs. Counts one through eight also held forfeiture specifications that amounted to $10,000 in cash from accounts at Richland and Mechanics banks. Other items included three Apple iPhones, an LG cell phone, a Verizon tablet and a revolver.
Ammunition belonging to four other weapons other than the revolver found during the search warrant was also seized by METRICH.
All items were determined to be subject to forfeiture.
According to Lucas County court records, McCoy was sentenced to six months community control in March 2001 for pleading guilty to possession of cocaine. He entered into a narcotics anonymous 12-step program as part of the sentencing.
McCoy’s defense attorney, Edward Corley, said McCoy was a respected member and sponsor in the 12-step program — and still is.
“He had an addiction problem. He took it upon himself to go to narcotics anonymous and he was successfull. So much so, that he went out in the field to spread the word that you can overcome addiction,” Corley said to the jurors during a closing argument.
“Let’s keep it real,” Corley continued. “Drugs are bad. No one doubts that. But is that an issue in this case? No. We believe that if we look at all the evidence, there is reasonable doubt.”
Corley presented the case to the jury by taking them through the case step by step.
When METRICH raided McCoy’s house in April of this year, McCoy was in bed with his girlfriend, Mary Bernhardt, who has also been charged with trafficking heroin — and who, Corley reminded the jury — pleaded guilty in late August.
“She was using in his house, he wasn’t using — that’s been determined already,” Corley said.
The drugs METRICH seized from the raid were found in McCoy’s safe. Upon questioning from detectives, Bernhardt “conveniently forgot the combination to the safe.”
“Does she know what’s in the safe?” Corley paused. “Better start denying.”
Corley pointed out that the prosecuting team did not perform DNA scanning in McCoy’s residence.
“So what connects the defendant to these items? Are there fingerprints? None were taken. DNA was not on the items. There is nothing to connect him to what was found,” Corley said.
During his rebuttal, Murphy reminded the jury members that McCoy’s wallet was found within the safe, serving as the connector Corley was searching for.
“The defense states there is nothing to connect him to the drugs. But there is. The wallet, with his identification,” Murphy replied. “And if you go to my home, you’ll find my DNA. But with that, DNA does not have a date stamped to it. In this case, DNA plays a small part. It proves nothing.”
During McCoy’s last words before Robinson determined a sentence, he pleaded with the judge to consider his old age and health ailments.
“I wish we could have done (this) without a trial. I just wanted some compassion. I want to show you how I can come back to show society that people can change. I want an opportunity to live, be productive, be responsible, to work. I apologize to the world and to God for my mistakes,” he said.
