Lima man sentenced to six years in prison for drug possession

LIMA – A Lima man was sentenced Thursday in Allen County Common Pleas Court to at least six years in prison on three drug possession charges after a jury found him guilty in August.

Fines totaling $12,500 were also imposed, but Judge Terri Kohlrieser waived the fines due to Marcus McLellan's inability to pay them.

Allen County Assistant Prosecutor Cecily Stewart said the state's recommendation for McLellan's sentencing was a total sentence of 9.5 years in prison, and she cited McLellan's juvenile and adult criminal history – including drug possession and trafficking and felonious assault – as well as the history of noncompliance with community control sanctions – such as drug court, reentry court and probation.

At the jury trial last month, Assistant State's Attorney Colleen Limerick said McLellan, 44, was found with 1.11 grams of methamphetamine in a tray, 6.97 grams of cocaine in his pocket and a black bag containing 17.47 grams of methamphetamine on the floor of the truck While driving, 5.24 grams of cocaine and 2.75 grams of a mixture of xylazine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl were found in 21 sachets.

Lima Police Officer Garrett Weekly was off-duty when he noticed McLellan and Trevor King in a parking lot in a truck, apparently napping and dozing off, and called him to dispatch. In an interview with investigator Aaron Montgomery, McLellan confirmed that he had a tray of drugs and paraphernalia on his lap and was high.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.