Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 23, 2026
Routine Traffic Stop Results in 8 Year Prison Sentence
ZANESVILLE, OH –
February 20, 2026, Anthony J. Curtis, 48, of Zanesville, was convicted by a Muskingum County Jury following a two-day trial for charges resulting from drugs that were found on Curtis during a routine traffic stop.
Warren Edwards, APA, representing the State, secured guilty verdicts against the defendant on all counts presented to the jury. Those counts were:
1. Possession of Methamphetamine, F2
2. Tampering with Evidence, F3
3. Resisting Arrest, M2
Following the guilty verdicts, Judge Kelly Cottrill immediately sentenced Curtis to eight (8) to eleven and a half (11 ½) years in prison.
Case Details:
On December 1, 2025, Patrol Officer King, with the Zanesville Police Department, conducted a traffic stop on a maroon Toyota Camry after the vehicle violated a traffic law.
King identified the front passenger as Jackie Wickham, the back seat passenger as Curtis Capers, and the driver as Anthony Curtis.
While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle King discovered that Capers had an active warrant for his arrest. As part of the arrest process, Capers was searched. During this search officers discovered Capers had methamphetamine on him. The amount of methamphetamine resulted in the charge being a felony of the third degree. Capers entered a plea as a result of that charge and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
While King placed Capers under arrest, Patrol Officer Love observed Anthony Curtis turn away from Love and position himself where the officer could not see his hands. Love then observed Curtis with a green meth pipe as well as plastic baggies.
While Love ordered Curtis to exit the vehicle Curtis continued digging around with his hands around his mid-section and center console. Curtis was again ordered to exit the vehicle and once he exited the vehicle for arrest Curtis continued to physically resist arrest.
While sitting on a curb, video shows Curtis toss a baggie behind him. After Curtis is told to stand up so he can be searched, Curtis drops another baggie.
Lab tests performed on the contents of the baggies returned positive for methamphetamine.
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