PICKAWAY COUNTY, OH – February 25, 2026 – Several defendants appeared this week in the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court before Judge Matthew H. Chafin for hearings involving charges ranging from drug offenses to grand theft and breaking and entering.
Grand Theft Case
James C. Howes, 38, listed as incarcerated at the Pickaway County Jail in Circleville, entered a guilty plea to Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle (F-4). He was ordered to undergo a pre-sentence investigation, with sentencing scheduled for March 25, 2026.
Multiple Drug Charges
Derek Adam McCord, 37, also incarcerated at the Pickaway County Jail, pleaded not guilty to several charges, including:
- Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-2)
- Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-2)
- Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-5)
- Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs of Abuse (M-1)
Bond was set at $20,000. McCord was ordered not to leave the state, must observe a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, maintain employment, and comply with Adult Probation monitoring. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
Breaking and Entering
Harvey C. Horn, 46, of the Pickaway County Jail, was charged with Breaking and Entering (F-5) and identified as a second violent offender. Horn was admitted to a violation of probation and sentenced to 12 months in jail. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $3,898.19.
Drug Conveyance Charges
Treyan R. Palmerston, 22, of Chillicothe, pleaded not guilty to:
- Illegal Conveyance of Drugs of Abuse onto the Grounds of a Detention Facility or Institution (F-3)
- Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-5)
Bond was set at $10,000 or OR bond. Palmerston was ordered not to leave the state, must follow a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, maintain employment, and comply with Adult Probation monitoring. A pretrial hearing is set for March 12, 2026.
Diamond L. Raines was charged with Illegal Conveyance of Drugs of Abuse onto the Grounds of a Detention Facility or Institution (F-3). A failure to appear was noted, and a warrant has been issued.
Tommie L. Wilkerson, 22, of the Pickaway County Jail, pleaded not guilty to Complicity to Illegal Conveyance of Drugs of Abuse onto the Grounds of a Detention Facility or Institution (F-3). Bond was set at $10,000 or OR bond with conditions similar to other defendants, including travel restrictions, curfew, employment requirements, and Adult Probation supervision. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
The cases remain pending unless otherwise noted.
