By Aimee Hancock

Miami Valley Today

TROY — Ashley M. Cowen was sentenced Monday to community control as part of a plea agreement to three drug-related charges in connection to a search warrant executed in March of last year. Cowen pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2020.

Prior to sentencing Monday, Cowen submitted a urine sample at the request of Judge Stacy Wall. According to Wall, the result indicated the presence of buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat acute and chronic pain, as well as to treat opioid use disorder.

When asked, Cowen said she could not explain the presence of the drug in her system and did not know how it appeared in the screen. A second drug test was given to confirm and indicated the same result, Wall said.

The sentences handed down by Judge Wall, includes, for count one, fifth-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a reserved prison sentence of six months, two years of community control, and court costs.

For count three, third-degree felony trafficking, Wall imposed a 24-month reserved sentence, two years of community control, a mandatory fine of $7,500, a forfeiture specification of $4,509, and $700 in restitution.

For count four, the second fifth-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound, Wall imposed another six-month reserved sentence, two years of community control, and court costs.

Cowen will also be required to complete 20 hours of community service, complete the outpatient drug treatment program she is currently enrolled in, and complete a mental health evaluation. A local jail sentence of 30 days was suspended on the condition Cowen produces clean drug screens once per week for a month, after which she will be subjected to regular screens as part of her probation.

Prior to sentencing, Wall allowed Cowen a chance to give a statement on her own behalf.

“I acknowledge that I’ve made several mistakes,” Cowen said. “I have a 5-year-old who depends on me — just me … I have made a lot of changes and I just want to stay on the right path now.”

Cowen, 36, of Troy, was arrested in March following a search of her Kings Chapel Home on Waterford Drive, as part of an investigation for possession and sale of cocaine.

As a result of the search, numerous bags of suspected cocaine were seized, which were packaged for distribution, according to a press release from the Miami County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, weighing scales, pills, drug paraphernalia, cellular telephones, and $4,509 were seized as evidence of drug trafficking.

Cowen’s indictment consisted of six charges in total, including two charges of possession of fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony; one charge of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, a third-degree felony; one charge of trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony; aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

As part of the plea agreement, Cowen pleaded guilty to the two fentanyl-related charges and the trafficking in drugs (cocaine) charge. The state dropped the remaining counts and agreed to stand silent at sentencing.