By Gary Ogle and Krystal Smalley
gogle@wbcowqel.com
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

Judge Sean Leuthold made it clear he was both angered and frustrated with the case of 19-year-old Taylor Young, not so much with the defendant as with the circumstances involved.

Young, who was placed on community control following two drug-related convictions earlier this year, admitted in court to violating terms of that community control.

The judge, noting that many see no value in prison sentences for drug-related cases, called that approach both “ineffective and counterproductive” in recounting the details of Young’s case. The judge was especially aggravated with older men whom he described as exploiting young female drug addicts.

“When I see this stuff it makes my blood boil,” Leuthold said.

Leuthold did not sentence Young to prison, but instead to the county jail for a total of 120 days. Young automatically receives credit for being in jail pending the completion of her case. When the judge was informed she would only have to serve one more day, he was reluctant to release her during the holiday season out of concern for her safety.

However, a holder from Franklin County will ensure her incarceration through the holidays. The judge told Young she would be required to be enrolled in an intensive drug treatment program, most likely the court’s ISAT program.

“This an opportunity for you,” the judge told Young.

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Thirty-five-year-old Kathy Mongold was placed on community control for five years and ordered to complete a drug and alcohol treatment program. Mongold, who pleaded guilty to breaking and entering in October, will also have to pay restitution in an amount to be determined.

Zachary Strickland has been in the prosecutor’s diversion program since 2013, but he ran into some problems recently when he failed to report for office visits. He also still owes $4,885 of $5,500 in restitution. Despite Strickland admitting that he could not be able to pass a drug test due to recent marijuana use, Leuthold released him on a personal recognizance bond. Adam Stone was appointed as Strickland’s attorney.

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Twenty-five-year-old Ross Craner, of Galion, was granted a new attorney. Craner, who is facing up to eight years in prison for burglary, was appointed Mansfield-based James Mayer III as his new counsel.

Craner pleaded guilty to drug possession in 2014 and was originally placed on community control, but was sentenced to prison for eight months in 2015.