UPDATE 4/26/12 @ 2:35 p.m,
ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- The former Buchtel Police Chief has been sentenced after being arrested earlier this year.

Kelsie Lanning, Jr. pleaded guilty Thursday to permitting drug abuse, a fifth degree felony.

Lanning, Jr. was arrested in February, with his girlfriend Jessica Willison, after police say she bought pills from an undercover agent in Lanning Jr.'s presence.

Lanning, Jr. had already resigned from his position. As part of his sentence, he also had to permanently surrender his law enforcement certificate.

According to Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn, Lanning, Jr. also had to forfeit the $90 that was made in the drug sale.

He was sentenced to three years probation, with an underlying 11 month prison sentence if he gets in trouble during that time. Lanning, Jr. also has to serve 80 hours of community service.

Blackburn tells WSAZ.com Willison's case is still pending. She pleaded not guilty last month to several drug charges.

---

UPDATE 3/15/12
ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- The girlfriend of the Buchtel Police Chief has pleaded not guilty to several drug charges.

Jessica Willison, 29, of Nelsonville, appeared in Athens County Common Pleas court Wednesday.

She's charged with aggravated possession of drugs, aggravated trafficking in drugs and deception to obtain a dangerous drug.

Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn says in February, Willison provided money and transportation to Columbus to obtain a prescription by deception.

He says she also took possession of 13 pills, sold some of those pills and then took possession of seven additional pills and sold a portion of some of those pills.

Willison was released on her own recognizance.

Buchtel Police Chief Kelsie Lanning was arrested at the same time as Willison.

Investigators say Lanning purchased prescription medication from a narcotics enforcement team member in a controlled transaction out of a Nelsonville home.

Lanning has been charged with permitting drug abuse.

---

UPDATE 2/16/12 @ 5:50 p.m.
BUCHTEL, Ohio (WSAZ) -- A local police chief is facing a drug charge after being caught up in an undercover buy.

Kelsie Lanning, chief in the Ohio town of Buchtel, was arraigned Thursday on a charge of permitting drug abuse after an undercover buy that took place at his home Wednesday. His long-time girlfriend, Jessica Willison, was also arrested. She was charged with aggravated possession and trafficking.

Buchtel mayor John L. Sullivan had just given his 33-year-old police chief of a year-and-a-half a 200 percent raise. He was one of many in this village of 554 who never thought that Kelsie Lanning, Jr. and drug crime would be in the same sentence.

“It was a shock no one suspected," said Sullivan told. "He was the best chief the village ever had, very smart, knew the law and worked hard.”

The mayor says Chief Lanning volunteered to get drug tested every three to four months for three years -- and the tests always came up negative.

Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly told WSAZ.com that he had been getting complaints about Chief Lanning for about a year.

The Wednesday afternoon drug raid at Chief Lanning's Fairview Street home in Nelsonville came after the sheriff says Jessica Willison bought 20 oxyxodones from a confidential informant. When the drug task force hit the home, the sheriff says the evidence was blatant and obvious.

They found marijuana, snort tubes and crushed pills.

Sheriff Kelly padlocked Chief Lanning's gun and drug filled evidence room to inventory and see if additional charges are warranted.

Mayor Sullivan quickly suspended the jailed Lanning without pay and appointed part-time volunteer village police officer Jeremy Sharp as acting police chief

The mayor says Lanning called him after the raid and said "they have nothing on me."

The mayor quickly cut off that conversation, and after consulting with the village attorney, Sullivan will ask the suspended chief to officially resign.

If Kelsie Lanning posts a $50,000 bond. He is not allowed to leave the county without permission. Lanning is also not allowed to possess a firearm and is required to be a "law abiding citizen."

---

UPDATE 2/16/12 @ 11 a.m.
BUCHTEL, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Buchtel Police Chief Kelsie Lanning, Jr. was arrested late Wednesday night on felony drug charges.

Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly says Lanning, 33, was originally taken into custody at his home in Nelsonville about 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.

According to the criminal complaint, Lanning permitted his live-in girlfriend, 29-year-old Jessica Willison, to buy Oxycodone pills from an undercover officer at his residence with him present. This took place on Wednesday.

Kelly says Lanning was not on duty at the time of the alleged buy.

Deputies had a search warrant ready and once the buy took place, searched the home and found marijuana, crushed up pills and snort tubes, according to Kelly.

Sheriff Kelly tells WSAZ.com that they got a tip about illegal activity involving Lanning more than a year ago and have been investigating since that time.

Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn says that approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, Chief Lanning was released from custody as the investigation continued.

Blackburn says that after further review of the evidence, it was decided to present charges of Complicity of Deception to Obtain Dangerous Drugs, Permitting Drug Abuse and Dereliction of Duties to a grand jury.

Overnight, Sheriff Deputies arrested Chief Lanning and he was taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

He was arraigned in Athens Municipal Court Thursday morning. His bond was set at $50,000. He was also ordered to not possess a firearm and not leave Athens County without court permission.

Willison has been charged with third-degree aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree trafficking in drugs.

The criminal complaint say the Willison bought 20 Oxydodone pills from the confidential informant.

Sheriff Kelly also tells WSAZ.com that he seized the evidence room operated and under control of the Buchtel Police Department. Kelly says Lanning was the only person with access to the evidence room.

Sheriff Kelly says he has also spoken to Buchtel's Mayor, John L. Sullivan, to assure him the village will have protection for his residents.

Kelly says that Jeremy Sharp, who volunteered to help out the police department, has been appointed Interim Chief.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

---

UPDATE 2/15/12 @ 10:45 p.m.
BUCHTEL, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Buchtel Police Chief Kelsie Lanning was released from custody Wednesday night, and charges are now considered pending, Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly tells WSAZ.com.

Lanning was taken into police custody earlier Wednesday on suspicion of purchasing prescription pills from an undercover officer.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

---

ORIGINAL STORY 2/15/12 @ 5:30 p.m.
BUCHTEL, Ohio (WSAZ) -- A police chief has been arrested after deputies say he bought prescription pills from an undercover officer.

Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly says Buchtel Chief of Police Kelsie Lanning was arrested at his home in Nelsonville about 3:30 p.m Wednesday.

Lanning was not working as a law enforcement officer when he purchased the prescribed medication.

The Athens County Sheriff has also seized the evidence room operated and under control of the Buchtel Police Department.

Sheriff Kelly has communicated with Buchtel's Mayor, John L. Sullivan to assure the mayor the village will have protection for his residents.

Lanning has been charged with possession of an illegal narcotic and additional charges will be presented to the Grand Jury.

He has been taken to the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail and will appear in court via video Thursday morning.

Lanning's girlfriend, Jessica Willison, 29, was also arrested Wednesday at the home for possession. Additional charges will be presented to the Grand Jury for Willison, as well.