The Scioto County Grand Jury indicted Charles Clark, 41, of Portsmouth, on a long list of charges involving cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine, along with an allegation that he used a vehicle with a hidden compartment to transport controlled substances.
The indictment includes:
- Trafficking in cocaine
- Possession of cocaine
- Trafficking in heroin
- Possession of heroin
- Two counts of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound
- Two counts of possession of a fentanyl-related compound
- Operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport controlled substances
- Aggravated trafficking in drugs
- Aggravated possession of drugs
Cocaine, Heroin and Fentanyl — All in One Case
According to the indictment, the first group of charges stems from April 30.
Prosecutors allege Clark was trafficking between 20 and 27 grams of cocaine, and that the offense happened in the vicinity of a juvenile. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of a 1994 Ford Mustang, alleging the vehicle was used to transport drugs or drug proceeds.
The same date brought another set of allegations.
Clark is accused of trafficking and possessing between 10 and 50 grams of heroin, again with prosecutors alleging the trafficking happened near a juvenile.
Then comes fentanyl.
The indictment alleges Clark trafficked and possessed between 5 and 10 grams of a fentanyl-related compound on April 30, with the trafficking charge again carrying an allegation that the activity happened in the vicinity of a juvenile.
The Hidden Compartment
One of the more unusual charges accuses Clark of knowingly operating or possessing a vehicle equipped with a hidden compartment used to conceal or transport drugs.
Prosecutors allege the compartment actually contained controlled substances at the time.
That charge helps explain why the Mustang appears repeatedly in the indictment as property prosecutors want forfeited.
Then Came May 9
The case gets even larger with allegations from May 9.
The grand jury says Clark trafficked between 20 and 50 grams of a fentanyl-related compound, a first-degree felony allegation.
Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of $1,461 in cash, which the indictment alleges was drug proceeds or money used to buy drugs, paraphernalia, or otherwise facilitate drug activity. The Mustang is again listed as property allegedly used in the operation.
Clark is also charged with possessing the same quantity of fentanyl.
And fentanyl was not the only drug allegedly involved that day.
The indictment accuses Clark of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine in an amount at least five times the bulk amount but less than 50 times the bulk amount, again allegedly near a juvenile.
He also faces aggravated possession of methamphetamine involving that same quantity range.
The $1,461 is tied to those charges as well.
Not His First Drug Case
Clark has also had previous brushes with the criminal justice system involving drugs.
Prior charges listed in court records include illegal conveyance of drugs into a government facility, possession of criminal tools, possession of heroin, failure to appear, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Taken together, the new indictment alleges something much broader than someone caught with a single bag of drugs.
Prosecutors are describing a case involving four different drugs, trafficking-level quantities, cash, a vehicle allegedly used to move drugs, and even a hidden compartment.
The charges are allegations. Clark is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
