A Bowling Green man who said alcohol is a “demon” is going to prison for drug possession.
Clay Downs, 24, was transported from jail Monday to the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Molly Mack.
He had been indicted in February for aggravated trafficking of drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both second-degree felonies; having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony; and receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony.
The trafficking and receiving stolen property charges were dismissed.
A search warrant was executed on Jan. 21 in the 16000 block of Mercer Road due to a drug trafficking investigation. Downs had in his possession more than five times the bulk amount of methamphetamine. Officers also found a Ruger .380 that had been reported stolen.
Downs had been convicted of a felony in 2019 in Wood County.
Defense attorney Martin McManus said alcohol was the root cause of his client’s problems.
“Sometimes it takes a long time for people to realize they’re an alcoholic,” McManus said.
He understands he can’t touch alcohol, McManus said about Downs.
Wood County Assistant Prosecutor Morgan Spitler said Downs had an issue with self-control and the fact that his was out on bond at the time of this offense warranted the above minimum prison term.
Downs admitted he had a pretty long criminal record but has struggled with alcohol, which he called a “demon,” all of his life.
While incarcerated, he said he planned to learn a trade in order to have a decent occupation when he gets out.
“Alcohol is your demon, and it is related to the offenses,” Mack said.
She followed the state’s recommendation for a mandatory definite prison term of three years and an indefinite 4.5 years for the drug charge and 18 months for the weapons charge, to be served concurrently.
Downs must also pay a mandatory $7,500 fine.
