Jury trial begins for Lima man accused of drug possession

LIMA — Three witnesses were heard for the prosecution during the start of a jury trial Tuesday in the Allen County Common Pleas Court for a Lima man accused of possession of cocaine, a first-degree felony.

Special Agent Andrew Eilerman and Task Force Officer Thomas Kennedy of the Northwest Ohio Safe Streets Task Force and Kristin Canfield of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified in Lloyd Horton’s case.

Eilerman explained how the task force came to know about Horton, 32, possessing 1 ounce, or about 28 grams, of cocaine on Aug. 18, 2022.

The task force was surveilling Christopher Clary’s home and GPS tracking his vehicle due to drug trafficking allegations when he traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to get cocaine. When Clary arrived back home, task force officers saw Horton driving Clary’s vehicle with Clary in the passenger seat. The task force didn’t know who Horton was at the time and followed him when he left in his own vehicle to get his license plate information so they could follow up with him later.

Eilerman said when the task force arrived at Horton’s father’s home where he was staying the same day and told him they were looking for drugs, Horton was cooperative and took them to the basement where it was stashed by the furnace behind the drywall. Eilerman said he then got the drugs out from behind the wall and handed them to officers. Eilerman said Horton said he received the drugs from Clary in exchange for Horton driving Clary to Michigan.

The jury was provided pictures of Horton getting out of Clary’s vehicle, Horton’s vehicle parked in Clary’s driveway and the spot in the basement where the drugs were stashed, but not a picture of the drugs in the space. The drugs were provided as physical evidence. Eilerman said there were no pictures of the drugs where they were stashed because a camera couldn’t fit in the space and the officer taking the pictures took possession of the drugs.

Eilerman said Horton’s statements made to the task force officers were also not recorded because, since Horton was not being arrested, the officers would have to ask for permission to record the conversation.

The defense will have an opportunity to present witnesses and closing statements will be heard Wednesday.