Mething around in Olney?

RICHLAND CO. – Some familiar names and faces have been hemmed up this past month in a couple of alleged meth moving or possession cases in the city of Olney…and one of them fresh off being shot in the back allegedly by a pudgy guy with a funny nickname.

That one would be the latter of the two to occur, Nathan Harmon, who was busted on February 1 at 509 East Monroe in Olney with what authorities say was a substance containing meth over five grams but less than 15 – qualifying for delivery amounts in the state of Illinois.

Harmon, who’s about to turn 33 and hasn’t learned much over the years if his massive number of court files are any indication, was still recovering from being shot in the back on January 11, when he was for some reason on the premises of 303 East South Street in Olney in the early morning hours. George “Pooters” Schamel, 36, is the poor fella charged with that action; Schamel is charged with a Class X felony Attempted Murder, and his case is currently working through the court system.

Harmon, a convicted thief, batterer and dope felon, has been set for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 25; he’s still in the Richland County Detention Center, held on a $15,000 cash bond…which, according to the bonding sheets lately, only the most exclusive doper-supporters seem to have; so it remains to be seen whether or not one of them will pony up the cash and spring Harmon.

The other familiar face is Sarah Kocher, 35, of Olney, freshly bonded out of Wabash County on a misdemeanor there just a few weeks prior.

Kocher was arrested on January 26, after she was pulled over for Improper Turn Signal. When a subsequent search was conducted, authorities allege she had on her person less than 5 grams of a substance containing meth (user amounts), a Class 3 felony; and Class B misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of Cannabis (more than 2.5 but less than 10 grams).

Kocher didn’t have to wait in the RCDC as long as Harmon did/has; a Chris Ritter, of Porter Street in Olney, posted her bond on the 27th getting her out for $1,500.

While court paperwork doesn’t show it, it’s understood from the Kocher camp that she may have been offered a deal of some sort if she went ahead and attended rehab. The court docket kind of indicates this: She’s not scheduled for a next appearance until March 1.

Kocher had just taken a plea to the Wabash charge (the one that Cassandra Goldman, prosecutor, let through, anyway; possession of pot was not charged formally) of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, which she got out of with a Supervision/Withholding of Judgment and fines and fees of $1,292, only $250 of which have been paid.

It remains unclear whether Goldman even knows that less than 24 hours after the plea and judgment, Kocher messed up (part of “supervision” is to not screw up…), or, if she does, whether she’ll actually do anything about it.