By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com

The number of felony arraignments Monday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court was relatively small compared to recent months. The bond set for one defendant, however, was not small by any comparison.

Judge Sean Leuthold continued the $1 million bond originally set in Municipal Court on Nov. 21 for 44-year-old Nathan McIe. McIe, a Crestline resident, is charged with first-degree felony rape and if convicted of the charge could be sentenced to as long 10 years in prison. Such a conviction would also require a Tier III sexual offender registration.

Bucyrus attorney Adam Stone is representing McIe.

The victim of the alleged crime is 12 years old.

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Eleven people in all were arraigned on felony charges Monday. Six defendants face drug-related charges. One case was particularly frustrating for the judge.

Rebecca Eckenrode is charged with one count of felony 5 drug possession and two counts of misdemeanor 1 drug possession. Eckenrode was indicted after an overdose incident when she failed to provide the Prosecutor’s Office with documentation of an assessment as required by the newly enacted immunity law.

Eckenrode’s family had retained Crestline attorney Sebastian Berger to represent her. The judge took time to emphasize to the family members present in court how concerned he was for Eckenrode’s safety and the need for her to be involved in intensive, ongoing counseling.

When the issue of bond came up, Berger requested a personal recognizance bond. The judge, looking directly at Eckenrode’s family, granted the bond and told them that if something happened to the defendant while she was out on bond to remember that he wanted to help her.

Those arraigned Monday, the charges filed and bonds set are: Denver Hedges, F5 criminal non-support (personal recognizance bond); Timothy Moyer, F5 drug possession and M4 drug paraphernalia ($25,000); Jessica Rowalt, two counts of F5 drug trafficking ($75,000); Nathan McIe, F1 rape ($1 million); Elliot Forrest Sr., two counts of F5 drug trafficking ($150,000); Martin Fife Jr., F3 tampering with records ($50,000); Larry Steinheiser, F4 burglary and M4 criminal trespass ($150,000); Rebecca Eckenrode, F5 drug possession and two counts of M1 drug possession (personal recognizance bond); Brian Byers, F5 theft of credit card and four counts of M1 misuse of credit card ($75,000); Stefenie Morgan, F4 domestic violence ($100,000); Aaron Buchanan, F5 drug trafficking ($200,000).