A Chillicothe man who avoided prison after pleading guilty to a felony drug offense is back in custody after allegedly violating the terms of his sentence and facing a new drug-related charge.
Court records show Seth Thomas Matthew Edward Cottrill, 44, of Chillicothe, was indicted by a Ross County Grand Jury in April 2025 on one count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs, a fifth-degree felony.
Following his indictment, Cottrill was arrested and later entered a guilty plea to the charge. Rather than imposing a prison sentence, Ross County Common Pleas Judge Michael M. Ater placed Cottrill on two years of community control during a June 2025 sentencing hearing.
As part of that sentence, Cottrill was ordered to complete an inpatient treatment program, perform 200 hours of community service within one year, and comply with all conditions imposed by the court and probation department.
The case appeared resolved until January 2026, when the Ross County Probation Department filed a petition alleging Cottrill had violated the terms of his community control sanctions.
Court records show a capias warrant was requested and issued on January 23, 2026. The same filing suspended his community control period pending further court action.
The warrant remained outstanding for several months before being served by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office on June 7, 2026. Court records indicate the warrant return was officially filed with the court on June 18.
Jail records show Cottrill was booked into custody on June 17 and is currently being held by the Ross County Jail. Records from the Miami Valley Jails system list a pending charge of Possession of Drugs – Schedule I or II Substance, though additional details regarding that allegation were not immediately available.
The latest arrest comes less than a year after Cottrill received community control in lieu of a prison sentence for the felony drug conviction.
A hearing in Ross County Common Pleas Court is expected to determine whether Cottrill violated the terms of his community control and whether additional sanctions, including a potential prison sentence, could be imposed.
Court records do not currently specify the exact nature of the alleged violation that resulted in the capias warrant being issued.
As with all criminal cases, all defendants are presumed innocent of new charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
