3 plead innocent to drug trafficking

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Two men and a woman pleaded innocent Tuesday to aggravated drug trafficking after authorities seized 54 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $100,000 from an apartment just south of North Road Elementary School in Howland.

Johnathan Putnam, 31, and Candace Ware, 24, both of 1052 Harvard Drive S.E., and Jason Putnam, 23, of 3219 Fairview Ave. S.E. pleaded innocent to the same charge, a first-degree misdemeanor. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in prison.

Johnathan Putnam and Ware posted $50,000 bond and were released. Jason Putnam had not posted bond of $100,000. All three are due back in Warren Municipal Court at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 29.

Police plan to file charges later against another man and woman found at the apartment.

The Trumbull Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force was assisted by Howland, Niles and Girard police in raiding the apartment after a one-month investigation into marijuana trafficking throughout the county, TAG said.

The apartments are close to Howland Township to the north and the city of Niles to the east.

Ernie Cook, chief deputy for the Trumbull County sheriff’s office, said the relationship between TAG and the city of Warren has worked out well in recent weeks, as this marks the third drug raid to take place in the city.

Cook said he will be meeting with Warren officials next week to formalize an agreement between TAG and the city for continued drug investigation within the city.

TAG is staffed by Trumbull and Ashtabula county deputy sheriffs and utilizes a provision of state law that allows TAG to receive the proceeds of cash and goods recovered during drug raids, such as vehicles and homes, if they were used in the commission of drug offenses.

The money is used to help TAG run its operations.

The city will be asked to provide assistance to TAG in terms of Warren Police personnel, Cook said, but not a financial contribution, Cook said.

TAG’s work benefits the city, as well as the parts of the county outside Warren where TAG has traditionally done its work, Cook said.

For example, while officers were conducting surveillance on a drug house on West Market Street in Warren in recent months, a large number of vehicles from Southington and North Bloomfield were seen coming and going from the home, Cook said.

TAG also works on firearm trafficking, gangs and homeland security.