Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 21, 2025
Columbus Man Convicted of Drugs and Guns Charges
A Muskingum County jury has convicted Shawn M. Atchley, age 46, of Columbus, on four counts arising from his March 7, 2025, arrest at Sharon’s Tavern in Zanesville. The charges and convictions are:
• Two counts of Having a Weapon While Under Disability (felonies)
• Trafficking in Fentanyl (a felony, carrying a mandatory one year firearm specification)
• Possession of Fentanyl (a felony, carrying a mandatory one year firearm specification)
On the evening of March 7, 2025, while conducting routine enforcement, the Ohio Investigative Unit agents observed the grip of a handgun protruding from a patron’s clothing at Sharon’s Tavern. A records check identified him as Shawn Atchley, who has prior convictions for aggravated robbery, involuntary manslaughter, and drug possession—all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm. Atchley was placed under arrest and searched.
At trial, Atchley claimed he believed the substance was methamphetamine and intended only personal use. The jury rejected this testimony. Laboratory analysis confirmed the drug was fentanyl—enough to fatally overdose several thousand people—and the packaging was consistent with trafficking rather than personal consumption.
He faces a prison sentence of up to five and a half years when formally sentenced in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court.
“Another criminal with a violent history linked to drug trafficking and weapons has been successfully prosecuted,” said Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch. “Continued criminal behavior in Muskingum County will not be tolerated and will result in significant punishment.” Welch also thanked the Ohio Investigative Unit for their dedication and the jury for its careful deliberation.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court. If the maximum term is imposed—including the mandatory one year specifications—Atchley could serve up to five and a half years in prison, followed by mandatory post release supervision.
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