Three in heroin case plead guilty

October 9, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Three people indicted with 34 others in July as part of an investigation into a heroin ring in the city entered guilty pleas in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Darla Harrison, 49, of North Osborn Avenue and Natalie Habib, 22, of South Salem-Warren Road in North Jackson, each pleaded guilty to what is known as ILC, or intervention in lieu of conviction.

Alana Reese, 21, of Williamsburg Drive in Canfield, pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin.

All three entered their guilty pleas before Judge Shirley J. Christian.

Harrison and Habib will undergo a court-ordered assessment to receive treatment for their drug addictions and will be given two years to complete that treatment. If they complete it within a year and do not get into trouble, the charges will be dismissed and they can also have them expunged.

Harrison was charged with four counts of possession of heroin and a single count of aggravated trafficking in drugs. Habib faces four counts of possession of heroin.

Reese is expected to receive probation. She is undergoing counseling for her drug addiction. Judge Christian warned her if she does not finish her treatment or gets in trouble again before her Nov. 6 sentencing, she will go to prison.

Of those indicted with the three, about a dozen face more serious charges of being the leaders of the ring while defendants such as Harrison, Habib and Reese were those buying the drugs.

Prosecutors have said they want them to receive treatment for their addictions to help dry up the market for drugs while pursuing stiff sentences for those running the ring.