A Columbus woman who sold drugs to a man who accidentally overdosed after taking them will spend at least six years in prison.
Melissa S. Jones, 41, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and drug trafficking charges during a March 30 hearing in Licking County Common Pleas Court. She initially pleaded not guilty in October and was scheduled for jury trial before deciding to change her plea, court records show.
Jones sold drugs to Charles J. Rooks, 47, of Pataskala, who died from an accidental overdose April 26, according to a Licking County Coroner Office report. Rooks had fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone, among other substances, in his system after his death, the report states.
Licking County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Marcelain sentenced Jones to 6-9 years in prison and credited her with 24 days of jail time served. She must also serve two to five years of probation following her release.
“I would like to apologize for my actions in this case,” Jones told the court. “I do take full responsibility and accountability. Nothing I say will excuse or justify my actions in this case, and I’m really sorry to the family. There’s nothing I can say to take the pain away.”
Police responded around 9:30 p.m. April 26 to a report of an overdose death along Wagon Avenue in Pataskala. First responders found Rooks dead at the scene and officers in court records said they found a bag inside his pocket containing a substance that later testing determined was cocaine and fentanyl.
“You had a good job where you make good money, good place to work and a good company to work for,” Marcelain told Jones during the hearing. “Drug dealing has a cost of doing business and prison is one of the costs.”
Police arrested Jones Oct. 1 following an investigation from Pataskala Police Sgt. William Hayes. In court records, detectives state Jones met Rooks around 6:40 p.m. April 26 at a gas station in Pataskala, where she handed him drugs. Police searched Rooks’ phone April 29 and found messages between him and Jones in which they discussed pricing, where to meet and which drugs Jones sold.
Police searched Jones’ Columbus home April 30 and found more than 20 grams of fentanyl and cocaine and nearly 46 grams of cocaine, as well as oxycodone pills and marijuana, according to court records.
In an interview with police April 30, Jones admitted to them selling drugs to Rooks April 26, that she had done so multiple times before and didn’t know the cocaine she sold was cut with fentanyl, the records state.
“She truly regrets this incident and these charges,” Jones’ attorney Michael Hayes said during the hearing. “She’s deeply sorry… I truly believe she shows genuine remorse.”
Rooks graduated from Licking Heights High School and enjoyed watching and playing sports, according to his obituary. He was close with his nieces and nephews, as well as his siblings, and had a strong bond with his mom, Angela Kay Rooks, the obituary states.
A Licking County grand jury indicted Jones Oct. 8 on several charges before she pleaded not guilty to them. She posted a $500,000 bond Oct. 24, court records show.
Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Columbus woman sentenced for selling drugs that led to man’s death
Reporting by Josué Perez, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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