ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio – September 19, 2024 – An ongoing drug trafficking investigation culminated in a significant seizure of narcotics and the arrest of a local woman on Wednesday.
The Athens County Task Force executed two search warrants on Seventh Street in Jacksonville, with assistance from the Athens County Special Response Team, which secured the locations for detectives to conduct their search.
Ashley Nicole Rodgers, 37, of 22 South Seventh Street, was detained and interviewed at the scene. Authorities recovered a substantial quantity of suspected methamphetamine, along with paraphernalia related to drug trafficking and use, as well as several weapons. All items will be sent to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for further testing.
Rodgers has been charged with possession of drugs and trafficking in drugs, both classified as second-degree felonies due to the presence of juveniles during the offenses. Sheriff Smith highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “The danger posed to minors necessitated the upgrade of charges, reflecting the serious nature of these offenses.”
Rodgers has been transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, and the case is being forwarded to the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office, where additional charges are anticipated.