By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Prior felonies and a bad first impression added enough weight to a Nevada man’s current felonies to send him to prison Wednesday.
Judge Sean Leuthold’s first impression of 29-year-old Jason Brown did not get off to a good start when he had to issue a warrant for Brown’s arrest after the Nevada man failed to appear for his arraignment hearing at the beginning of March. Finally in front of the judge at the end of the month, Brown eventually pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and forgery in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
“Mr. Brown, I don’t know how I can be more clear,” Leuthold said, “if you want to mess with drugs in our county you’re going to end up in prison.”
Leuthold sentenced Brown to 11 months in prison for drug possession and another 11 months in prison for forgery. The sentences will be served concurrently for a total of 11 months. Brown also had his driver’s license suspended for six months and must forfeit any drug-related property currently being held to the Bucyrus Police Department. He must pay a $1,250 mandatory drug fine in addition to restitution to Walmart in the amount of $141.61 and to Gochenour Meats in the amount of $75.20.
Forty-four-year-old Chad Perdue of Bucyrus got off to a rocky start with Judge Leuthold in February and that rough ride continued into Wednesday. Perdue had failed to appear on time for his change of plea hearing on Feb. 25, showing up 30 minutes late and testing positive for cocaine. He pleaded guilty to theft and receiving stolen property and finally received his sentencing Wednesday.
Perdue was sentenced to five years of community control with the condition that he serve the first six months in the county jail, though he will be credited for time already served. He must pay restitution in the amounts of $3,826 and $1,250 to the victims in the case.
“You need to get to work on getting that restitution paid,” Leuthold warned Perdue.
If Perdue fails on community control he could be sentenced to 18 months in prison on the felony theft and 12 months in prison on the receiving stolen property charge.
Nineteen-year-old Blake Whitt’s dealing with the court haven’t gone well recently. Whitt had testified at his father’s trial earlier this month and that testimony left assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler feeling as if the young man hadn’t been truthful. Hoovler said as much during Whitt’s arraignment on March 18 but agreed to dismiss one drug possession charge in exchange for Whitt’s plea to a second charge.
Whitt, after pleading guilty to a fifth-degree felony of drug possession, had been sentenced to five years on community control and must enter a drug and alcohol treatment program.
“State law says I can’t put you in prison,” Leuthold said but he added a warning should Whitt step out of line while on community control. “If you screw that up . . . then you suddenly become prison eligible.”
Leuthold released Whitt on a personal recognizance bond until he could be placed into a treatment program.
“Keep in mind I take violations of my bond very seriously,” Leuthold said.
Whitt also had his driver’s license suspended for six months and must forfeit any drug-related property currently being held to the Galion Police Department as well as pay a $1,250 mandatory drug fine.
Twenty-three-year-old Logan Temple of Bucyrus had pleaded guilty to felony drug possession on March 10 and was finally sentenced Tuesday. Temple was placed on community control for five years.
Four men were arraigned during Wednesday afternoon’s court hearings and Judge Leuthold had one thing to say to the men lined up in his courtroom when they showed dissatisfaction with their bond amounts.
“This is the way we do things in this county,” Leuthold said unremorsefully. “If you get caught with heroin, you get a high bond.”
Twenty-five-year-old Daniel Chatman of Crestline entered a not guilty plea to drug possession, a fourth-degree felony. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office allegedly found Chatman in possession of 1.47 grams of heroin on Nov. 21 after they conducted a search warrant. Chatman had bond set at $150,000 and was appointed attorney Adam Stone. Chatman could be sentenced to a maximum prison sentence of 18 months.
Twenty-eight-year-old Matthew Hardeman of Mansfield entered a not guilty plea to drug possession, a fifth-degree felony. Hardemon had allegedly been found with heroin in his possession on Dec. 16. He was appointed attorney Tom Nicholson and had bond set at $150,000. The felony carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison.
Thirty-one-year-old James Disbennett of Galion entered a not guilty plea to receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony. Disbennett had allegedly been in possession of a stolen credit card between July 1 and July 23. He was appointed attorney Brian Gernert and had bond set at $50,000. The felony carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison.
Twenty-one-year-old Jarret Allen of Bucyrus entered a not guilty plea to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. Allen had allegedly had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl that resulted in the birth of a child. He was appointed attorney Grant Garverick and had bond set at $250,000. The felony carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.