News

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Thursday, October 30, 2025

Lifelong Drug Dealer Convicted at Jury Trial Faces 54-Year Prison Sentence

(ZANESVILLE, OH)

Jurors returned guilty verdicts on sixteen (16) counts Wednesday evening in the case of Corey Whitehouse, 45, of Zanesville. He faces fifty-four years of prison when sentenced. Judge Kelly Cottrill revoked Whitehouse’s bond and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

Whitehouse was convicted of the following offenses:

• Trafficking in cocaine in the presence of a child, F2

• Possession of cocaine, F3

• Illegal Manufacturing of Cocaine in the presence of a child, F1

• Four counts of child endangering

• Trafficking in Fentanyl in the presence of a child, F1

• Possession of Fentanyl, F1

• Illegal Manufacturing of Fentanyl in the presence of a child F1

• Possession of cocaine, F5

• Four additional counts of child endangering

The jury also determined that Whitehouse would be required to forfeit two cars, a boat, a trailer, cash, a television and a DVR recorder.

Facts of the Case:

In May of 2023, members of the Zanesville / Muskingum County Drug Unit conducted a controlled buy of cocaine from Whitehouse at his Pine Street home. During the transaction, a baby was heard in the background when Whitehouse was caught manufacturing drugs.

Later, in 2025, the Zanesville Police Department Special Response Team served a search warrant obtained by the Zanesville/Muskingum County Drug Unit and CODE Task Force at Whitehouse’s residence on Pine Street. Whitehouse, his girlfriend, and their two children were located inside.

During a search of the home law enforcement recovered 65 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, blenders, cutting agents, mixing bowls, baggies, and other accessories used in the manufacturing of drugs. Jurors were able to conclude from the evidence that Whitehouse trafficked, possessed, and manufactured fentanyl in the presence of children.

Court Details:

Whitehouse was represented by Columbus attorney Sterling Gill in the trial lasting two days. During the trial Whitehouse claimed that he was “entrapped,” which is a specific legal defense.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle, who handled the case with APA Lucas Howard explained that by claiming he was entrapped, Whitehouse had to prove he was not already the kind of person who would commit this crime and that he was truly innocent of choosing to do so.

Jurors heard from Whitehouse’s associates that he dealt drugs every single day for at least the last two years. This evidence proved Whitehouse had been caught, not entrapped.

Whitehouse testified in his own defense, during which time he admitted that he sold the drugs, possessed the fentanyl, fathered the children present, and knew how to manufacture crack and fentanyl.

“The jurors were not convinced that Corey Whitehouse was not a drug dealer, in fact it was quite the contrary,” according to APA Litle. “By all observations it seems he was convinced by reading things online, talking to his family, and consulting jailhouse lawyers that he should pursue the entrapment defense, which did not work out.”

The State will be requesting a sentence of fifty-four years in prison for Whitehouse. Whitehouse has an extensive criminal history which includes convictions for sex offenses against minors, felony drug offenses and convictions for felony acts of violence.

“He will stand as a warning to others,” according to Litle.

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