The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Judge sentences couple 'pumping a lot' of marijuana into area

Project deconstructs vacant houses to revive Dayton
6:39 p.m.
Victim identified in fatal shooting outside restaurant
11:31 a.m.
H1N1 flu suspected in Preble County officer’s death, sheriff says
11:18 a.m.
Coroner confirms identities of three men killed in arson
11/7/09
Former Mead Data Central leader dies
11/7/09
> More headlines

By Nancy Bowman, Staff Writer 8:36 AM Tuesday, June 9, 2009

TROY — A Bradford couple, who a Miami County judge said were “pumping a lot” of marijuana into the community, were sentenced to identical one-year prison terms Monday, June 8.

Lori Swob, 45, and William Swob, 54, were charged in December with felony trafficking in drugs. Officials also want to take their house on East Elm Street in Bradford, and $5,614 investigators said they found inside along with two pounds of marijuana.

As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, the Swobs pleaded no contest to felony trafficking in drugs and agreed to forfeit the money. They were found guilty in April. Prosecutors dropped the bid to forfeit their house.

In separate sentencing hearings Monday, Lori Swob told Judge Robert Lindeman, “I apologize for being in here.”

Her lawyer, Joe Fulker, said she didn’t smoke or sell marijuana and didn’t feel she could tell her husband to stop his activity. Fulker asked the judge to follow the recommended sentence of community control.

William Swob made no comment. His lawyer, Jack Hemm, asked for a minimum sentence if community control was not granted.

Lindeman rejected community control for both, making similar comments at each sentencing.

He said investigators saw known drug users coming and going from the Swobs’ house, and said the amount of marijuana seized was more than usual in a local drug investigation.

“You were pumping a lot of that stuff out into the community,” Lindeman said. “These weren’t casual sales like we usually see.”

The Swobs could have received up to five years in prison each.

They also were sentenced to six-month license suspensions and fines of $62 each to cover drug-testing costs.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

First off, I know Homer personally. I don't like him. He has always been a space cadet. However, there is something very wrong with this picture. You see, Homer kept to himself and NEVER permitted people to enter his personal life. This entire farce put away a very private person whose life was intruded upon by outside interests hell bent on creating a political agenda that self promotes. So, 2 human beings pay the price for a bunch of crooked Sheriffs. If Homey only had a good lawyer!

Buford Pusser
7:21 AM, 7/5/2009

REPORT ABUSE

The War On Drugs is a war on You.

RyCaN
2:38 AM, 7/1/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I agree with you Libertarian. The Swobs never forced their product on anyone. They merely made it available for those who chose to purchase it. On the other hand, Uncle Sam wasn't getting his cut and for some strange reason, Uncle Sam has rendered posession and use of the substance to be illegal.

Dan Edwards
7:43 AM, 6/10/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Our legal system is supposed to punish people for violating the rights of others. So whose rights did they violate? I read the news story five times, and I still can't figure out whose rights the Swobs infringed upon. Can someone please show me whose rights the Swobs infringed upon?

Libertarian
4:26 PM, 6/9/2009

REPORT ABUSE

When are we going to end this insane war against marijuana users? Attempting to prohibit pot has caused far, far more damage to society than smoking pot ever could. There is absolutely no good reason to continue prosecuting people for this. The government is way out of step with the American people on this.

Vern Depner
4:14 PM, 6/9/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 19 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.