Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 23, 2026
Man Convicted of Murder Sentenced an Additional 11 Years for Drug Case
ZANESVILLE, OHIO –
January 23, 2026, Jason R. Castle, 47, of Hopewell, appeared in the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to receive sentencing for charges that stem from a search warrant that was executed after Castle was identified as a homicide suspect in Licking County.
Castle appeared in the Muskingum County Court and received sentencing for Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs with a Major Drug Offender Specification.
Prior to appearing in Court, Castle was sentenced in Licking County to life in prison with possibility of parole after 18 years for a murder in Newark, OH.
Judge Anderson sentenced Castle to 11 years in prison for his drug charge in Muskingum. Anderson also ordered that the 11-year sentence be served consecutively (one after the other) to his life sentence.
Case Details:
On October 10, 2024, detective Sergeant Brady Hittle was contacted by the Licking County Sheriff's Office, in reference to a murder investigation involving a victim who was located in a residential driveway with six gunshot wounds.
During the investigation Jason Castle was identified as a suspect with a known address in Muskingum County. Collaborative efforts revealed that there was a drug aspect to Castle’s case.
After determining that there was probable cause to search Castle’s residence, a search warrant was secured and executed. Alongside multiple growing plants of Marijuana, officers recovered five (5) quart sized bags of methamphetamine crystal.
“This case grew out of the collaborative efforts of Muskingum and Licking County law enforcement,” according to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle who handled the case. “It was gratifying to be able to compliment the work of the Licking County Prosecutor’s office by adding this meaningful sentence to the one the murderer is already serving.”
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