ZANESVILLE, Ohio — The Fifth District Court of Appeals has upheld convictions and prison sentences in two separate Muskingum County criminal cases involving drug possession and thefts from vehicles.
The appeals were filed by Lindsey Y. Riley and Leeron Mayle, both of whom challenged decisions previously handed down by the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas.
Riley’s case stemmed from a February 2024 incident when U.S. Marshals entered a Zanesville apartment with a resident’s permission while searching for fugitives. Riley and her boyfriend, Benjamin Hanning, were found in an upstairs bedroom where authorities discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Testing identified substances including oxycodone, methamphetamine, fentanyl and alprazolam. Riley was subsequently charged with aggravated possession of drugs, possession of a fentanyl-related compound and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.
Riley pleaded not guilty and took the case to a bench trial. She testified that the drugs belonged to her boyfriend and said she initially claimed ownership because she was afraid of him. The trial court ultimately found her guilty.
She received an indefinite prison sentence of five to 7½ years for aggravated possession, with sentences for the other offenses running concurrently. Riley was also charged in a separate drug case while the first case was pending and later pleaded guilty.
On appeal, Riley again challenged whether the drugs belonged to her and disputed the maximum jail sentences imposed for misdemeanor offenses. The three-judge appellate panel upheld the trial court’s judgment.
The second case involved a series of thefts from vehicles in a Zanesville hotel parking lot during September and October 2025.
Mayle and another person were accused of stealing property from vehicles. Mayle eventually pleaded guilty to three felony theft counts, one felony count of possession of criminal tools and related misdemeanor charges.
Although the parties jointly recommended a 24-month prison sentence, the trial court imposed 12 months for each of Mayle’s four felony counts and ordered the sentences to run consecutively, resulting in a total of four years in prison.
The court cited additional information about Mayle’s background and criminal history and noted that some of the stolen property included tools victims relied upon for their jobs. Restitution connected to the offenses exceeded $8,000.
Mayle appealed the length and consecutive nature of his sentences, but the Fifth District found no basis to overturn the trial court’s decision.
The appellate court ultimately affirmed the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas judgments in both cases.
