Former Coldwater EMS Employee Faces Jury Trial on Drug Theft Charges in Mercer County

A former Coldwater Emergency Medical Service employee accused of stealing drugs from the agency is moving closer to trial following a recent court conference in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Ashlee R. Heinl Botkin, 40, of Coldwater, is charged in case number 23-CRM-148 with 20 counts stemming from an investigation into missing medications at the Coldwater EMS facility.

On January 9, 2026, the case came before the court for an attorney conference held by Zoom, pursuant to a prior judgment entry. The State of Ohio appeared through special prosecutors Drew Wood and Kaitlin Wilkin, while Heinl Botkin was represented by attorney Samuel H. Shamansky.

During the conference, both sides updated the court on the status of the case and submitted trial briefs. Prosecutors advised the court that the state’s case-in-chief is expected to take approximately four to six days of trial time, excluding jury selection and opening and closing arguments.

The defense indicated its presentation is expected to last approximately one and a half to two days, also exclusive of opening and closing statements.

Based on those updates, Judge Matthew K. Fox set a series of dates leading up to trial. An additional attorney conference by Zoom is scheduled for March 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. A final pretrial hearing is set for June 12, 2026, at 10 a.m.

The case is scheduled for a jury trial to begin Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., with one day reserved for jury selection. Opening statements and witness testimony are set to begin Monday, July 13, 2026, with two full weeks reserved for trial.

Heinl Botkin was indicted in October 2023 on eight counts of theft of drugs, fourth-degree felonies; three counts of theft, first-degree misdemeanors; four counts of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, fifth-degree felonies; four counts of possession of drugs, first-degree misdemeanors; and one count of tampering with records, a third-degree felony.

According to the indictment, the allegedly stolen drugs included fentanyl, diazepam, and Benadryl. The charges stem from a routine inventory conducted in July 2023 that found medication missing from a secured medication box at the Coldwater EMS facility.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation and notified the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the Drug Enforcement Administration. After a joint investigation with the Ohio Board of Nursing, the case was presented to the Mercer County Grand Jury, which returned the 20-count indictment.