Lima man gets 28 years prison after drug ring involvement

LIMA — A Lima man received 28 years in prison Tuesday in the Allen County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to eight counts related to fentanyl possession, trafficking and manufacturing.

Eric Upthegrove Jr., 41, was indicted on 57 counts which included fentanyl, heroin and marijuana possession and trafficking and the illegal manufacture of drugs. In April, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Thines filed a motion to dismiss 30 of those counts.

Upthegrove pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound; two counts of possession of a fentanyl-related compound; the illegal manufacture of drugs; engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity; and having weapons under disability. Three of the counts were third-degree felonies and the rest were first-degree felonies. The first trafficking count still included the major drug offender, gun and money forfeiture specifications and the manufacturing count included two property forfeiture specifications.

As part of the plea deal, Upthegrove agreed not to request judicial release, so he will serve his full 28-year term, which consisted of 14 mandatory years and 14 non-mandatory years.

The case has been pending since 2021 with multiple delays, including when Upthegrove removed his ankle monitor and fled the state while out on bond ahead of a final pre-trial hearing. Upthegrove has also had multiple attorneys which further delayed the case.

Two other defendants were found to be involved in the drug operation: Ronald Hesseling II, who was sentenced to a minimum of 54 years in prison, and Nicoya Darby.

Court documents said over 100 grams of fentanyl was found after a search warrant at 765 Broadway Avenue in September of 2021, and during the sentencing it was said that pill pressing tools were found in the basement.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.