By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
One defendant in Common Pleas Court found out Thursday that doing the right thing the wrong way was ultimately wrong in the eyes of the law.
A warrant was out for twenty-six-year-old Cody Webb since November after he failed to appear for a hearing on a drug and alcohol assessment. Crawford County authorities finally got their hands on Webb when he was picked up by the Ontario Police Department recently.
Webb pleaded guilty to drug possession in June of 2013 and then-Judge Russell Wiseman ordered an assessment completed before he would place Webb on intervention. During that time, Webb explained, he realized that he wouldn’t be able to get over his drug problem if he stayed in Crawford County and instead left the state.
“This case illustrates why giving PR (personal recognizance) bonds to opiate addicts is a bad idea,” Leuthold said. He added that addicts released on personal recognizance bonds were often dangers to themselves and others while also carrying the strong possibility of overdosing again.
Though Leuthold credited Webb for getting clean, he said that did not negate the fact that he had absconded. Leuthold sentenced Webb to 11 months in prison, fined him $1,250, and suspended his driver’s license for six months. The judge advised Webb’s attorney, Tim O’Leary, that he would be willing to hear an argument for early release.
A man up on an aggravated burglary charge also has to deal with violating his probation.
Thirty-seven-year-old Anthony Pfeifer appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court earlier this week for an arraignment hearing on the first degree felony charge awaiting him. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 11 years in prison and fined up to $20,000. Judge Sean Leuthold set bond at $750,000 Monday.
The alleged actions that led to his arraignment also landed him in hot water Thursday morning for violating his probation. Pfeifer was convicted of felonious assault in 2007 and was given a seven-year prison sentence. He was granted judicial release in December of 2012.
The allegations against Pfeifer for his probation violation included admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, and opiates, entering an occupied structure in Bucyrus, stealing a purse from the structure, and stealing a check for $1,000.
Tim O’Leary, who was appointed as Pfeifer’s counsel on Monday, enter a denial to the allegations. Leuthold set bond on this case at $250,000, making Pfeifer’s total bond come to $1 million.
Four people were able to avoid any prison time at their sentencing hearings Thursday morning.
Twenty-seven-year-old Ronald Pavlus, who pleaded guilty to drug possession prior to the hearing, was sentenced to five years of community control, fined $2,500, and had his driver’s license suspended for six months.
Judge Leuthold felt it was very unlikely that 34-year-old Charles Hall would make any payments on his $25,000 child support balance but warned the man that he would very likely be sent to prison if he didn’t.
“I have very little faith you’re going to get this done,” Leuthold advised Hall. “It’s very clear to me you haven’t given you’re kids anything.”
Hall pleaded guilty to nonsupport prior to the proceedings and was sentenced to five years on community control with the order that he pay his child support. A 12-month prison sentence could be enacted if Hall fails to do so.
Twenty-year-old Alyssa Pangallo, who pleaded guilty to drug possession, was placed on the court’s Intensive Supervision and Treatment (ISAT) program. The Galion woman will serve five years on community control and must pay a $1,250 fine. Her driver’s license was also suspended for six months.
Though Leuthold thought his ISAT program was one of the best options for 27-year-old Robin Hall, he also understood that a support system was greatly needed for the Galion woman. Robin Hall, who pleaded guilty to two counts of drug possession, explained that she did not have any family or friends in the county and felt she would fall back into drugs if she stayed. Leuthold granted her request for probation and to move to Fairfield County where she has family. She must serve five years on community control and enter into a drug and alcohol treatment program.
Dalton Carroll-Ward, of Bucyrus, pleaded guilty to drug possession, a fifth-degree felony. Judge Leuthold ordered a pre-sentence investigation and, should there be no issue that arises, would sentence Carroll-Ward to five years on community control at the 20-year-old’s next court date.
Kyle McClintock of Galion was on probation for nearly a year before he was hauled into Common Pleas Court again. McClintock, who already has two drug possession felonies on his record, allegedly failed to submit to a random drug test as ordered by his parole officer.
“This is an ongoing issue with Mr. McClintock,” assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler stated. “We’ve given Mr. McClintock every chance in the book.”
Leuthold appointed Geoffrey Stoll as McClintock’s attorney and set bond at $200,000.
Thirty-one-year-old Steven McMillen of Galion was allegedly arrested in July for the misuse of a credit card in Galion, testing positive for cocaine and opiates, and failing to comply with substance abuse counseling. Leuthold appointed Brad Starkey as counsel and set bond at $200,000.
Twenty-two-year-old Dakota Commodore of Crestline allegedly failed to report to office visits since last November and has not paid any fees, court costs, or restitution since he was placed on the diversion program. Commodore denied the allegations. Stoll was appointed as his attorney and bond was set at $100,000.
Twenty-three-year-old Shane Banks of Bucyrus was arraigned on a felony five receiving stolen property charge. Banks, who pleaded guilty to breaking and entering in 2013, allegedly received a debit/credit card on June 1 which he knew to be stolen. Grant Garverick was appointed as Banks’ attorney and bond was set at $100,000.