A jury trial began Monday for Kyle Smith, who is charged with possession of a fentanyl-related compound, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, the illegal manufacture of drugs, aggravated possession of drugs and having weapons under disability.
Charlotte Caldwell | The Lima News
LIMA — Drug task force officers and a forensic scientist testified Monday in a jury trial for a Lima man accused of possession and manufacture of drugs and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Allen County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Thines said in his opening statement in Allen County Common Pleas Court that a search of Smith’s residence found more than 100 grams of methamphetamine and over 30 grams of fentanyl.
Allen County Sheriff’s Deputy Evan Thomas, Lima Police Officer Deana Lauck and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Forensic Scientist Kristin Canfield testified for the prosecution in Kyle Smith’s case.
In Thomas’ testimony, a firearm, ledgers, a blender, a pipe, a torch, a scale, U.S. currency and multiple phones were some of the other items found in addition to the drugs. The items found were shown to the jury in pictures taken by West Central Ohio Crime Task Force members when they did a search of Smith’s residence, and some of the items were in the courtroom as physical evidence.
Smith was allowed to wear civilian clothing at the trial, even though he is currently being held in the Allen County Jail.
Also on Monday, Stephen Chamberlain of the Allen County Public Defender’s Office made a motion to exclude from evidence Smith’s record of prior convictions or indictment, which would include a case in 2020 where Smith received probation for the possession of cocaine and heroin.
Smith rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors on June 27 that would have given him 15 years in prison. He also never waived his speedy trial rights.
He was indicted on charges of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, the illegal manufacture of drugs, aggravated possession of drugs and having weapons under disability.
The charges stemmed from a Feb. 1 search warrant at a trailer at 1912 E. Elm St., where the items were found in a bedroom where Smith was found.
Motions to exclude evidence from trial including the search of the trailer and any statements made by Smith were previously filed by Chamberlain. The document including Judge Terri Kohlrieser’s decision to overrule the motions said Thomas was contacted by a confidential informant that Smith was selling large amounts of narcotics from his home, and other confidential informants confirmed the same allegations.
While law enforcement conducted surveillance on the trailer, they stopped Smith in his vehicle while leaving the trailer park on Jan. 30, and Smith was found with methamphetamine. The following day, the manager of the trailer park was stopped in their vehicle while leaving the trailer park, and officers found cocaine that the manager said was just bought from Smith. This led to Thomas requesting a search warrant.
Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
