By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A maximum prison sentence was handed down for one Bucyrus man Monday afternoon in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Forty-nine-year-old Randy Hill pleaded guilty to second-degree felony burglary and received an eight-year prison sentence along with a $5,000 fine, mandatory five years on post release control, and restitution to be determined at a later date.
“Your record is maybe one of the worst misdemeanor records I’ve ever seen,” commented Judge Sean Leuthold, who dealt with Hill on a regular basis while he was a Municipal Court judge.
Hill’s record was lengthy, spanning from a burglary charge in 1987 to shoplifting, domestic violence, criminal trespassing, assault and battery. This time, however, Hill’s actions jumped to the felony level when he burglarized someone’s home.
Leuthold said the lengthy sentence was justified in Hill’s case, especially since Hill made himself a danger to the community.
“He’ll steal anything that’s not nailed down,” Leuthold said bluntly before turning to Hill. “You don’t have to live this way. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Gregory Kaple’s issues with alcohol landed him in prison. The 51-year-old New Washington 
man pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, a fourth-degree felony, and admitted to violating his community control as a result.
“I’m really sorry it happened,” Kaple said.
“There’s a time in your life – you got to stop acting like a horse’s behind,” Leuthold scolded. “What’s needed is an attitude adjustment.”
Leuthold sentenced Kaple to 17 months in prison, fined him $1,350, issued a lifetime driver’s license suspension and ordered him to forfeit his vehicle plates. Kaple will also have to complete mandatory alcohol and drug treatment. His probation was extended to five years in a 2012 case involving improperly discharging a firearm and resisting arrest, which will be tolled until his prison sentence is completed.
“It’s time to stop the boozing,” Leuthold told Kaple.
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Fifty-five-year-old Timothy Rathers was sentenced to nine months in prison for violating his probation. Rathers, of Bucyrus, admitted to testing positive for cocaine on three occasions.
Rathers, who was arrested after Bucyrus police issued a search warrant at his home in March and was later charged with permitting drug abuse, said he learned his lesson. Leuthold, however, seemed a bit skeptical.
“I don’t know what to do, man. We gave you a break,” Leuthold said, referring to Rathers’ original community control sentence.
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Ryan Noe was eligible for prison, but the circumstances surrounding his crime saw him 
being placed on community control instead.
The 28-year-old Crestline man pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony that carries a 36-month maximum prison sentence. Rather than any prison time, Noe will be serving five years on community control and paying a $750 fine and $300 in restitution.
The light sentence came due to the fact that Noe’s crime was not one of violence. He took his girlfriend’s credit card and made it unusable with too many entries.
“I think you did something foolish, a little vindictive,” Leuthold told Noe.
His actions, however, were not enough to warrant a prison sentence. Leuthold informed Noe that he would even consider terminating probation early if Noe followed the rules for a year.
Jocelyn Wilson entered two guilty pleas and is expected to be placed on community control. The 28-year-old Richwood woman pleaded guilty to felony 5 theft and to a bill of information for the illegal conveyance of items onto a detention facility, a third-degree felony.
Leuthold believed treatment would be a better option than prison for Wilson, who he believed was involved in heroin because of her boyfriend. Despite the softer penalty, Leuthold left Wilson with a clear warning.
“If you screw up, I’m not going to pat you on the back,” the judge told her, “I’m going to hold you accountable.”
Leuthold requested a pre-sentence investigation and ordered Wilson to be held in jail until it was completed. Wilson’s sentence will include five years on community control and entrance into the court’s Intensive Supervision and Treatment program.
Eugene Sewell, Jr. was sentenced to five years on community control. The 39-year-old Crestline man previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer.
Sewell admitted that he had been arrested numerous times in the past, but never had an altercation with an officer before. Leuthold conceded that he did not believe that the injuries the officer sustained were done purposefully, but noted that Sewell was responsible for his actions.
“Stay sober, stay calm. We won’t have any problems,” Leuthold advised.
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