STEUBENVILLE - A Toronto man arrested during a drug raid April 30 at the Whispering Hills apartment complex was sentenced Friday to 16 months in prison by Jefferson County Court Pleas Judge Joseph Bruzzese.
Brent E. King Jr., 24 of 714 Euclid Ave., Toronto, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of felony trafficking in crack cocaine and one felony count of possession of drugs in a plea agreement with the Jefferson County prosecutor.
King waived his right to a grand jury hearing and trial, admitting to the judge he twice sold narcotics to an undercover operative as well as possessing crack. During Friday's hearing, Bruzzese also told King he was under a lifetime firearm disability and could be additionally prosecuted if ever caught with a firearm. King also may have to serve up to eight months of probation upon his release, said Bruzzese.
King was indicted after a search warrant executed on April 30 at Apartment 55, 901 Bank St., Toronto, resulted in a seizure by police of 5 pounds of marijuana, a large amount of crack cocaine, cash, three loaded firearms and a vehicle, according to Toronto Police.
Two other individuals were charged at the time by the Jefferson County prosecutor in connection with the bust. They included Victoria D. Webb, 24, Apartment 55, 901 Bank St., charged with felony trafficking in crack cocaine in the presence of a juvenile, felony possession of crack cocaine, felony possession of marijuana and two counts child endangerment, all with gun specifications; and Tia N. Pardell, 18, East Liverpool, charged with felony trafficking in crack cocaine, felony possession of crack cocaine and two counts child endangerment. Cases for the other two suspects still are pending, according to Toronto Police. Both cases have yet to go to trial.
The raid at the apartment complex was conducted by Toronto Police, the Jefferson County Drug Task Force and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.
