Ballard Pleads Guilty Avoids Trial

A Zanesville man set to go to trial Thursday on multiple drug charges instead decided to enter a guilty plea. The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office says that 34-year-old Chad Ballard was facing 12 drug charges and one count of having a weapon under disability when he decided against the trial before Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill. The Judge accepted the plea and ordered a pre-sentence investigation. One count of trafficking in drugs will be dropped at sentencing.