CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe woman was booked into the Ross County Jail Wednesday after a warrant was served stemming from her failure to appear in court following a June traffic citation. Her latest booking also includes a charge of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.
Jessica Jo Smith, 30, was booked into the Ross County Jail on August 19, 2026. Jail records list illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension – all other suspensions, with the latter listed as a warrant charge.
The warrant can be traced to a June 28 encounter with the Chillicothe Police Department.
According to a Chillicothe Police report, Officer Christopher Althouse was dispatched to 1050 E. Main Street for a complaint. Althouse reported finding a black Kia Soul parked and running in the Dollar General parking lot.
Althouse wrote that Smith was slumped over the driver’s side door. When he opened the door, Smith allegedly began falling from the vehicle before waking up.
Police reported Smith was holding several empty cellophane baggies, which Althouse said he recognized through his training and experience as items commonly used to package drugs.
Smith reportedly told police she had been awake since approximately 3 a.m. and was tired, causing her to accidentally fall asleep in the vehicle. When questioned about the baggies, Smith allegedly said they belonged to her and that she had found them.
Police determined Smith was driving under a non-compliance suspension. Because the vehicle was running when officers encountered her, police had it towed and conducted an inventory.
During that inventory, Althouse reported locating several items he characterized as drug-related paraphernalia, including Chore Boy, a broken glass pipe, cellophane baggies, clean syringes and tin foil containing white powder residue. According to the report, the items were collected and disposed of.
Smith was cited for FRA suspension under Ohio Revised Code 4510.16(A) and released from the scene. She was ordered to appear for arraignment in Chillicothe Municipal Court at 9 a.m. on July 10.
Court records show Smith failed to appear for that hearing.
On July 20, Chillicothe Municipal Court Judge Keith Washburn ordered a warrant issued for Smith and set bond at $500 cash or surety. The docket shows the warrant was issued on August 4.
On August 19, the court docket was updated to show “E-WARRANT SERVED.” Smith was booked into the Ross County Jail that same day on the DUS warrant.
Her August 19 booking also lists a separate charge of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Ohio Revised Code 2925.14(C)(1) prohibits knowingly using or possessing with purpose to use drug paraphernalia.
The June police report documented the alleged discovery of a broken glass pipe and several other items police characterized as drug-related paraphernalia. However, the available booking and court records do not establish whether the August 19 paraphernalia charge specifically resulted from the items documented during the June 28 encounter.
Smith was listed as being held in the Ross County Jail following her August 19 booking.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
