Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Ohio Appeals Court Affirms Crooksville Man’s Conviction for Drug Overdose Deaths
Judges on a state appeals court upheld a Crooksville man’s drug and manslaughter convictions.
On November 20, Judges Hon. Patricia Delaney, Hon. Craig Baldwin, and Hon. Andrew King of the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Trevor J. Hinkle, 31, of Crooksville.
The Fifth District Court of Appeals hears appeals from Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Guernsey, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Richland, Stark, and Tuscarawas Counties.
Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Palmer argued the State’s case before the appeals court.
Hinkle provided fentanyl to two individuals, on two separate occasions, causing them to overdose and die from using the drugs he gave them.
Hinkle pleaded guilty to two felony charges of corrupting another with drugs and two felony charges of involuntary manslaughter.
Hinkle signed paperwork agreeing that he understood the consequences of pleading guilty. At a hearing, he confirmed that he understood the charges against him and was satisfied with his legal counsel.
On May 2, 2022, Hinkle was sentenced to eight to twelve years in prison, for causing the deaths of Laikyn Wisecarver and Larry Compton.
Two years later, Hinkle filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Hinkle claimed he had been unhappy with the quality of his legal counsel. He claimed there was secret evidence that would have shown he was not guilty.
He also said his defense lawyer gave him bad advice and conspired with prosecutors.
Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor John Litle, who handled the initial prosecution of Hinkle, says Hinkle’s claims are common among criminal defendants.
“It is common in criminal cases for defendants to lash out and accuse their attorneys of not working for them, or of working with the prosecution,” Litle said. “This pattern is the result of an attorney’s job to advise their client about the State’s evidence, which is normally overwhelming.”
In arguments before the Court of Appeals, the State directed judges to review the transcripts from Hinkle’s plea hearing. The transcripts showed that Hinkle agreed that he understood the plea and the possible penalties of pleading guilty.
The Court of Appeals also ruled that Hinkle produced no evidence of a conspiracy or the existence of secret facts beneficial to his case.
Hinkle will remain in prison at the Belmont Correctional Facility, in Saint Clairsville.
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