Prosecutor asks commissioners to authorize sale of forfeited Bechtel Avenue house after large drug trafficking case

Richland County Prosecutor Jody Schumacher asked the Board of Commissioners on May 19 to authorize the sale of a forfeited house at 1214 Bechtel Avenue in Mansfield following the conviction of Bradley Fisher on multiple drug trafficking counts.

Schumacher told the board that the property was seized after a multi'agency investigation and trial that resulted in Fisher's conviction on 18 counts. She said the jury concluded forfeiture was appropriate and that evidence seized at the Bechtel Avenue residence included bricks of cocaine, clandestine fentanyl pills, packaging consistent with trafficking and cash. "It was just over $28,000," Schumacher said of the cash recovered.

Schumacher showed photographs from the search and described interior upgrades while contrasting those images with the county auditor's estimate of roughly $50,000 and a 2023 conveyance record showing a $17,000 cash purchase. She said the jury's proportionality review supported forfeiture given the scale of the trafficking evidence and the testimony of a senior agent who estimated the street value of the drugs at more than $4,000,000.

Explaining the sale process, Schumacher cited the county's authority under the Ohio Revised Code and the procedure in the proposed resolution: advertise the property, accept offers for 30 days or advertise to public auction, accept the highest responsible bidder and retain the ability to reject bids. Schumacher also described the distribution of forfeiture proceeds under existing memoranda of understanding, saying the typical split would be 60% to the investigating law enforcement agency and 40% to the prosecutor's office.

Schumacher and a representative for the proposed listing agent, realtor Justin Bigelow of Dreamage Realty, said Bigelow would list the property on the MLS and offered to take zero commission to expand exposure. "We're gonna come after you, and we're gonna come after you hard," Schumacher said, characterizing law enforcement's message to traffickers.

Commissioners voted to (1) authorize the sale of the property and (2) grant an exclusive right to sell with Justin Bigelow as the listing agent, as set out in the proposed resolutions. The resolutions also direct staff to follow statutory advertising and bidding procedures and return offers to the board for final acceptance or rejection.

Why it matters: The sale would convert a forfeited asset into funds lawfully apportioned to investigative agencies and the prosecutor's office, supporting future investigations and programs tied to drug enforcement and prevention. Commissioners and law enforcement also underscored community safety concerns tied to fentanyl and manufacturing at the site.

What officials said: Schumacher said the property had been maintained by her office and that the prosecutor's office would be reimbursed for upkeep and utility costs before proceeds were distributed. Chief of police and other speakers described the investigation as long'running and resource intensive.

Next steps: The board authorized the advertised sale and exclusive listing; staff will post the required notices, accept offers during the advertised period and bring any bids back for the board's review. If the board rejects bids after the advertising period, Schumacher recommended moving to a public auction, which would require a further meeting.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 496; topfinish SEG 786.