A Chicago man was sentenced in federal court here today to 240 months in prison for having bulk amounts of narcotics at a Guernsey County hotel.
A federal jury convicted Kenneth D. Triplett, 38, of three narcotics offenses following a trial in May 2025. The crimes include possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base.
According to court documents and trial testimony, in April 2024, the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Triplett was in the county to distribute drugs. Triplett had traveled to Guernsey County with distributable amounts of drugs after being in the Columbus area.
Within 12 hours of receiving the tip, law enforcement observed Triplett’s vehicle at a Quality Inn in Cambridge, Ohio, and arrested the defendant nearby. Triplett had an active full extradition warrant for his arrest from Minnesota.
After arresting Triplett, officers searched his hotel room and discovered hidden throughout the room: cocaine and more than 230 grams cocaine base, an open vacuum sealed bag of fentanyl mixed with heroin, and a digital scale.
Triplett’s criminal history includes multiple drug convictions in multiple jurisdictions, often rural communities. Sentencing documents also note that Triplett’s drug trafficking is tied to at least one nonlethal drug overdose.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Aagard and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case.
Chicago man sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug crimes in Guernsey County
www.justice.gov
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Chicago man was sentenced in federal court here today to 240 months in prison for having bulk amounts of narcotics at a Guernsey County hotel.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden has lifted the snow level for Guernsey County.
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OHIO BURN BAN STARTS TOMORROW
Beginning tomorrow, Ohio’s seasonal burn ban goes into effect.
March 1 – May 31
6:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
• No burning brush
• No burning leaves or yard waste
• No trash burning
• No open fires
Spring conditions make fires spread quickly — even a small spark can turn into a serious wildfire.
Let’s do our part to protect our homes, farms, woods, and first responders.
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Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden has lifted the snow emergency for Guernsey County.
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Important Scam Alert from the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office.
Every day, new scams pop up, and we want to warn you about one that’s on the rise: Unpaid Parking Ticket Scams.
What to Know: You will never receive a text message regarding unpaid parking tickets from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If you receive such a message, do not contact the number provided. Instead, look up the agency's official number and contact them directly if you have any concerns. Stay Vigilant!
Scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated, making it harder to tell what's real. They might sound convincing, but we need to stay one step ahead! Spread the Word!
Please share this information with your loved ones, friends, and coworkers. Let’s keep our community informed and safe from these scams! Stay alert and protect yourself!
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Sheriff Jeffrey Paden announced that two Buffalo men have been charged with felonies following a death Investigation. Sheriff Paden said deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call on Saturday morning January 31, 2026, at approx. 9:22 a.m. after a caller reported a man was unresponsive in a vehicle near Claypike Rd. and Pleasant Road in Valley Township. Deputies and medics arrived on scene and the man, later identified as Shaun Hill, 39 of Buffalo, Ohio was pronounced dead at the scene.
Due to suspicious circumstances, deputies requested detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division as well as the County Coroner respond to the scene. The Coroner then ordered an autopsy. The Licking County Medical Examiner’s Office later performed the autopsy.
Investigators conducted several interviews, processed the scene and reviewed physical evidence over the past several days, ultimately resulting in the following criminal charges:
Evan Hood, age 37 of Buffalo, Ohio, was charged with Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree and Failing to Provide Aid to a Functionally Impaired Person, a felony of the fourth degree.
Eric Hood, age 40 of Buffalo, Ohio, was also charged with Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree and Failure to Provide Aid to a Functionally Impaired Person, a felony of the fourth degree.
Both men are scheduled to appear in the Cambridge Municipal Court on Friday February 6th at 12:30 p.m. for bond hearings. Other charges may be presented to a grand jury in the future as well.
Sheriff Paden would like to thank the medics, county coroner and Noble County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.
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