Defiance jury finds city man guilty of six drug trafficking charges; 29 1/2 years is maximum sentence

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By TODD HELBERG
cnedit@crescent-news.com
A Defiance County jury convicted a city man with a long drug trafficking history of six similar charges this week in common pleas court.
Shermaine Ligon, 30, 1051 Ralston Ave., was found guilty of two counts of trafficking in crack cocaine, first- and second-degree felonies; two counts of trafficking in cocaine, second- and fourth-degree felonies; and two counts of permitting drug abuse, each a fifth-degree felony.
Judge Joseph Schmenk ordered a pre-sentence investigation and continued Ligon's $750,000 bond with a 10 percent allowance provision. Sentencing was scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 8.
Ligon was arrested on the charges in September following an undercover drug operation by the Multi-Area Narcotics Unit and could be sentenced up to 29 1/2 years in prison.
According to assistant county prosecutor Carson Slade, who handled the state's case, the jury deliberated a little more than two hours before pronouncing its verdict.
"We're pleased with the verdict," said Slade. "We feel it reinforces the strength of the investigation conducted by the MAN Unit and also the success of their undercover operations."
The charges alleged that Ligon sold 8.3 grams and 14 grams of cocaine on two occasions as well as 16.9 grams and 12.2 grams of crack cocaine in separate transactions. Two of the charges had enhanced penalties because they occurred within 1,000 feet of a school and 1,000 feet of a juvenile, respectively.
The two permitting drug abuse charges alleged that Ligon used his car (a 2002 Pontiac Gram Am) to facilitate the transactions. The car was seized, Slade said, but turned over to a bank which had a lien on it.
Ligon, who was represented by Lima attorney Joe Benavides, did not testify during the trial.
The defense tried to show that the MAN Unit's informant was not credible, said Slade.
The conviction was Ligon's third for drug offenses.
In 1997 he was convicted of possession of cocaine and two counts of trafficking in cocaine. Three years later a jury found him guilty of intimidating a witness and two counts of trafficking in crack cocaine, resulting in a seven-year prison term.
The latest charges allege that he sold cocaine from March 2-May 17, 2007.