By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Torin Jones is no stranger to the judicial system and became familiar with the sights offered by the Crawford County courthouse in September, but those experiences made the 44-year-old Bucyrus man wary of taking any kind of plea deal.
Jones, who is facing a third-degree aggravated drug possession charge, two fourth-degree drug possession charges, and two fifth-degree drug possession charges, refused the plea agreement in place when he appeared in court Wednesday.
“He said I misunderstood him somehow,” Tom Nicholson, Jones’ attorney, explained to Judge Sean Leuthold when the agreement was refused.
Leuthold moved to set a trial date for Jan. 5 but recessed the hearing in order for Jones to speak to his attorney when Jones said there may be “some kind of mix up” in the explanation of the sentence.
After nearly 30 minutes of discussion and waffling on a new agreed sentence presented by assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler, Leuthold put the hearing back on the record in order to hear Jones’ decision.
Though Hoovler offered four years and 11 months on three of the charges – the other two would have been dismissed – along with the caveat that the State would not say anything if Jones or his attorney filed for judicial release after 24 months, Jones once again refused the offer.
As Jones rejected the second agreement, Leuthold turned to Hoovler and asked if the agreement was valid any longer.
“Absolutely not,” Hoovler affirmed.
Leuthold prepared once again to set a trial date when Jones interrupted.
“Can I have a week to think about this?” he asked the judge.
“We’re done,” Leuthold said tersely and slammed down his gavel.
Jones will face a trial in Crawford County Common Pleas Court for the second time this year over allegations of drug possession. That date has been set for Jan. 5. Jones could face up to eight years in prison on the charges.
Jones, who was found innocent in September of drug possession, served a 10-year prison stint in Michigan.
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Sheena Conley pleaded guilty to two charges of theft in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Wednesday afternoon and just avoided maximum prison sentences.
The 30-year-old Crestline woman received 12 months in prison out of the maximum 18 months on the fourth-degree felony, which will be served consecutively to the maximum 12 months on the fifth-degree felony for a total of 24 months in prison. Conley was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $220 and $1,577.79 to the victims in the cases.
Judge Sean Leuthold told her, “Time to pay the piper.”
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Twenty-one-year-old Destiny Thomas of Detroit, Mich. was sentenced to five years on community control and must serve the first 60 days of that sentence in the county jail. She will be credited for 54 days she has already served.
The sentence on the fifth-degree forgery charge was similar to the one handed down to her co-defendant, Danielle Gaston. Thomas could be sentenced to 12 months in prison if she fails on community control.
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Twenty-three-year-old Haley Walters of Galion received a $100,000 bond after the judge heard allegations that she violated the terms of her community control. Walters’ parole officer, Mark Alspach, stated that Walters allegedly tested positive for marijuana, opiates, benzodiazepines, and Buprenorphine and possessed drug paraphernalia on Nov. 25. Judge Leuthold appointed Tim O’Leary as her attorney.
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Brandon Kualaau was arraigned on a drug possession charge Wednesday afternoon. The charge alleged that Kualaau was pulled over for a traffic stop on Oct. 4 when LSD was found in his possession. Though he has no significant felony record, Leuthold was concerned about Kualaau not having any ties to the community and posing a potential flight risk. The judge set bond at $50,000 and appointed Grant Garverick as Kualaau’s attorney.