Judge says prison is best for man sentenced on drug charges

A Galion man will be spending the next five years in prison, a decision that Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold said was the best for the 44-year-old man.

By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

A Galion man will be spending the next five years in prison, a decision that Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold said was the best for the 44-year-old man.

Robert Lewis pleaded guilty Monday to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony, and permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony. He was sentenced to four years in prison on the felony 2 and 11 months on the felony 5; the sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 59 months in prison. Lewis also received a six-month driver’s license suspension, a $1,250 fine, and three years on post-release control. He must also forfeit $250 and other seized drug property to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

“I got messed up,” Lewis said in a subdued voice as he sat hunched at the defendant’s table. He admitted that since he became involved with drugs, he had lost a significant amount of weight, dwindling his once-200-pound frame to 120 pounds.

“You look awful,” Leuthold acknowledged. “Heroin has just eaten away at your body. It’s destroyed you . . . Sending you to prison might be the only thing keeping you from eating away and dying.”

Leuthold believed he was doing Lewis a favor in sending him away.

“You fell a long way down,” Leuthold said. “I think you finally hit bottom. It’s time you clawed your way back up.”

Thirty-year-old John Meacham, of Bucyrus, also pleaded guilty to drug charges, but he will not be serving time in prison.

“It’s one of these cases that I complain about all the time,” Leuthold stated. “Technically, this is your first felony. Even though this is trafficking in drugs – which is a terrible crime – I can’t do anything.”

Leuthold did accept Meacham’s guilty plea to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fourth-degree felonies, and ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed. Meacham’s recommended sentence included five years on community control, entrance into a drug and alcohol treatment program, a six-month driver’s license suspension, and a $4,500 fine. Charges of complicity and theft were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

“You need to behave yourself out there,” Leuthold warned Meacham.

If Meacham fails on community control, he could be sentenced to 36 months in prison.

Fifty-six-year-old Steven Young, of Chatfield, pleaded guilty to felony 5 drug possession. Leuthold continued Young’s bond and ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Young’s recommended sentence included five years on community control, entrance into a drug and alcohol treatment program, a six-month driver’s license suspension, and a $1,250 fine.