On January 1, 2026, Detectives with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Unit assigned to the Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission learned that Jonathan Hawthorne, 44, of Powhatan Point, Ohio, had an active warrant for his arrest and was staying at a local hotel.
Detectives located and arrested Hawthorne on the outstanding warrant. During the arrest, Hawthorne was found in possession of approximately 14 grams of fentanyl.
Detectives furthered their investigation and believed that Hawthorne was hiding other drugs at another location. A search warrant was applied for and then executed at a home in Powhatan Point, where detectives seized approximately 69 grams of fentanyl and 14 grams of methamphetamine.
Hawthorne was arrested and booked into jail for possession and trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Sheriff James Zusack is proud of the hard work and dedication of his staff, and reminds everyone; that it may be a New Year, but it is never a good time to deal drugs in Belmont County.
