A Wellston attorney who was scheduled for a bench trial last week has entered no contest pleas to several felonies.
Formal felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 6, 2022 against Debra Dawn Campbell, 59 at the time.
They include trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of Controlled Drug with intent to distribute, acquire proceeds from drug activity and possess firearm during commission of a felony.
Appearing last week before District Judge John Canvan, Campbell entered no contest pleas to a modified blind plea.
The judge received her pleas and scheduled her sentencing for 9 a.m. Aug. 6.
She pleaded no contest to trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of Controlled Drug with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The state has agreed to dismiss the acquire proceeds from drug activity.
A reported accomplice, Michael Allen Kulp, 40 at the time he was charged in Lincoln County District on Dec. 9, 2022, with five felonies, entered a blind guilty plea to all five and has been handed a state prison sentence.
Judge Canavan found Kulp guilty as charged and on Counts 1 through 5 sentenced him to 30 years in the Department of Corrections with all but the first 15 years suspended.
He also assessed him $100 fines on each count, a $100 VCA on each count and court costs on each charge. He suspended $24,900 of fine on Count 1 and ordered that the sentences are to run concurrent with each other.
Kulp is to pay 991 fees and is to receive credit for time served. The judge advised Kulp that he it to register on the mandatory methamphetamine registry and he was placed on supervised probation with DOC.
The judge further ordered Kulp to report to the probation office within 10 days of his release and to the Court Clerk’s Office within 180 days of his release.
Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Thompson and Kelly Trimble prosecuted the case and Kim Miller was Kulp’s defense attorney.
In March of 2023, Campbell and Kulp were bound over to stand trial. During their arraignments on April 4 of last year before Special Judge Emily Mueller, Campbell pleaded not guilty. Kulp at that time also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Lincoln County deputies served a search warrant on the attorney’s property and arrested her prior to the formal charges being filed.
A source with the Sheriff’s Office said, “It’s believed they operated in a coordinated effort.”
Count 1 accuses Campbell trafficking in illegal drugs by possessing not less than 20 grams of Methamphetamine, a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
She was charged in Count 2 of unlawful possession of CDS with intent to distribute.
Count 3 accused her of acquiring proceeds from drug activity by receiving or acquiring proceeds and concealing the proceeds.