Lima man sentenced to 8 years prison for drug trafficking, possession
Feb. 17—LIMA — A Lima man convicted of drug trafficking and possession charges was sentenced to eight years in prison in an emotional hearing Friday.
Terry Watkins-Thomas, 35, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony trafficking heroin, third-degree felony trafficking heroin in the vicinity of a school, fourth-degree felony heroin possession with forfeiture specifications and first-degree felony possession of cocaine in January. Several of the offenses were committed while he was awaiting sentencing on a charge in Auglaize County in 2021.
Watkins-Thomas is ordered to forfeit $669, two Samsung televisions and two arcade consoles to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force. A $10,000 fine was waived following an affidavit proving Watkins-Thomas does not have the ability to pay it.
Watkins-Thomas was supported by several members of his family and friends, three of whom spoke on his behalf.
The man's mother, a family friend and the oldest of his eight children all told Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Terri Kohlrieser that Watkins-Thomas struggles with addiction and they have had to come to terms with this. They said he is a generous and loving person who needs help with his drug habit.
Watkins-Thomas' lawyer, Kenneth Rexford, said the man has been clean for a "substantial amount of time" and that his mother is grateful that his being in jail has allowed this.
Watkins-Thomas apologized to the court and his family for the hurt he has caused. He said that he ran from police when they attempted to arrest him after he violated his bond by testing positive for cocaine because he was an addict.
"I was lost, your honor," Watkins-Thomas told Kohlrieser. "I just was high on drugs."
Watkins-Thomas is ordered to pay court costs. He will receive 450 days — almost a year and three months — of jailtime credit.
Kohlrieser told Watkins-Thomas to pay attention to the pain he has caused his family and to take his time in prison to better himself.
"You can either go in there and give up or go in there and be the man you want to be," Kohlrieser said.
