Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan announced the sentence of Dajuan Fields of 24 years to 29.5 years on both drug and violence charges.
The sentence was handed down on July 14, 2025, by Judge Chris Berhalter. Flanagan said that Fields was convicted of drug trafficking with a designation as a major drug offender as well as felonious assault. Flanagan echoed the comments of Judge Berhalter in that Fields has a history of violence which warranted such a sentence.
The prosecutor said that the defendant entered a plea to the two charges on June 30, 2025. According to Flanagan, Fields was involved in a felonious assault that occurred on September 30, 2024. Fields was charged in that case of brutally beating a man known to him and his associates at a residence in Bellaire.
The prosecutor said that evidence developed from the felonious assault as well as some drug activity prior to the assault led investigators to request a search warrant for a home in Barnesville, Ohio occupied by Fields. Officers executed the search warrant on October 2, 2024, at Fields’ residence and found a large amount of drugs.
Flanagan commended the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of Bellaire and Barnesville for their joint efforts in developing the case and arresting Fields and several others. Flanagan said that the offices worked toward a common goal which led to a successful prosecution.
The prosecutor added that many times an investigation will extend outside of one police department’s jurisdiction so this cooperation between agencies is vital.
“Our sheriff’s department really does an excellent job of conducting and coordinating these large investigations. The Criminal Interdiction Unit and the detective division are always working hand in hand with other local and federal departments. It was their efforts that directly affected the sentence imposed,” said Flanagan.
The prosecutor added that one of the other main reasons for such a significant sentence was the criminal history of Fields. Flanagan said that Judge Berhalter read a long list of crimes previously committed including another felonious assault conviction in Belmont County from 2015. Flanagan noted that Fields was previously sent to prison for that offense as it related to an assault on a person that Fields thought was providing information about his drug activity.
In fact, Flanagan noted, Fields was still on post-release control (parole) for that offense when he committed these new offenses.
“This was an important case for us. Mr. Fields has demonstrated a violent history and has now coupled that with major drug activity. This sentence will make a difference. Mr. Fields deserved a significant prison sentence, and that is what he got. This case was about ensuring safety, and Mr. Fields spending the next two and a half decades in prison accomplishes that,” said Flanagan.
Flanagan added that in addition to the 24 years in prison, Fields could still receive an additional 5.5 years if he commits violations of prison rules while incarcerated.
