WILMINGTON — A local heroin dealer received a 24-month prison term in cases from 2014 and 2015.

Bruce J. “Bj” Rheinscheld, 33, of Wilmington, had claimed he did not fully understand the effects of the guilty pleas he entered on the two cases in early June 2015, and subsequently filed motions to withdraw the pleas.

But Clinton County Common Pleas Judge John W. “Tim” Rudduck stated he found no factual or legal basis in support of the motions to withdraw, and sentencing went ahead as scheduled.

In a plea agreement, Rheinscheld pleaded guilty to two charges of trafficking in heroin. Four other charges of heroin trafficking and one charge of endangering children were dropped as part of a negotiated settlement.

The judge said the offender’s background included “a significant criminal history” and that Rheinscheld previously has been in state prison. Rheinscheld scored a high risk of repeat offending in the Ohio Risk Assessment Report, according to court papers.

The Greater Warren County Drug Task Force, which partners with the Wilmington Police Department (WPD) in some drug-related probes, took part in the 2015 operation involving Rheinscheld.

The judge ordered Rheinscheld to repay the drug task force $200 for buy money used in a drug deal, as well as pay back $250 in lab fees.

For the 2014 case, he must repay the WPD $50 for buy money.

The defendant’s license to drive is suspended for two years.

He was given credit for 38 days spent in the county jail on the cases.

At an unrelated sentencing hearing this week, Stanley George Irwin Jr., 38, of Wilmington, was given a 21-month prison term in two cases from 2014.

As part of a plea agreement, Irwin pleaded guilty to marijuana trafficking and to two charges of aggravated possession of drugs. Dropped in the negotiated settlement were two charges of heroin dealing, and one charge each of endangering children and possessing criminal tools.

According to court paperwork, prosecution did not seek a prison sentence for Irwin in the cases.

Rudduck cited Irwin’s “significant criminal history,” “multiple” prison terms, “the nature of his crimes, the harm being caused to our community, as well as defendant’s past failure to change his chosen criminal lifestyle” as reasons not to put Irwin on community controls.

In a state assessment, the defendant scored “high” for his risk to be a repeat offender.

He was given time credit for eight days in the county jail.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768 or on Twitter @GHuffenberger.