By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Only one person was sentenced to prison Wednesday, but plenty of defendants received stern reprimands from the judge.
Thirty-one-year-old Philip Steinmetz, of Tiffin, pleaded guilty to felony 5 drug possession in Crawford County Common Pleas Court and received a nine-month prison sentence as part of his plea deal. He was also fined $1,250, received a six-month driver’s license suspension, and was ordered to forfeit drug-related property to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Chad Carlisle was sentenced to five years on community control and was placed in the 
court’s Intensive Supervision and Treatment program after the conclusion of a pre-sentence investigation. The 21-year-old Bucyrus man pleaded guilty to drug possession in August.
“(He) doesn’t think he has to obey the rules,” Judge Sean Leuthold said sternly. “It’s time for all that to change.”
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Melissa Cannon, 38, was one of the many drug overdose cases that appeared on an arraignment day earlier this month and Leuthold was dumbfounded by the events leading to her arrest even as he accepted her guilty plea.
Cannon overdosed while at home on what was supposed to be a date night with her husband, who is also currently facing drug possession charges. Though Cannon said they obtained a babysitter for their child that night, Leuthold was still in disbelief.
“Just the way you’re explaining this to me makes me shake my head,” Leuthold said as defense attorney Grant Garverick tried to explain Cannon’s situation that night.
Leuthold’s words did not sit well with Cannon, though she did not voice any opposition to the judge’s statements.
“Don’t look all indignant over there. You’re the one who OD’d with your husband,” Leuthold told her. “Whatever happened to dinner and a movie? Now it’s needles and heroin.”
An emotional Cannon said she did not know how they got to the point of doing drugs, especially after stating they both kicked a pill habit.
“We were so stupid,” Cannon said. “I don’t know why we did it. We were so stupid.”
Though Cannon entered a guilty plea to felony 5 drug possession, she will have to await sentencing until a pre-sentence investigation is completed. Her recommended sentence would include five years on community control, entrance into a drug and alcohol program, a $1,250 fine, and a six-month driver’s license suspension.
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Though 28-year-old Tiara Keith was prison eligible, Leuthold did not believe that was the best course for the Marion woman. The judge accepted her guilty plea for felony 5 drug possession, ordered a pre-sentence investigation, and continued Keith’s personal recognizance bond.
Though Keith is expected to avoid prison time as long as she does not violate her bond, she will have to serve 90 days in the county jail before beginning her five years on community control. She will also be fined $1,250 and will forfeit $406 to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Tony Chatman, 38, admitted to violating his community control when he drank alcohol. Chatman, who pleaded guilty to criminal nonsupport August but has been making payments since then, was continued on community control.
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Thirty-three-year-old Jason Gernert, of Bucyrus, appeared in court for a probation violation. Gernert, who pleaded guilty to drug possession in April, was allegedly found unresponsive and had to be revived using Narcan. The allegations brought against him also included using heroin, possessing drug paraphernalia, and failing to comply with ISAT.
Leuthold set bond at $250,000 and reappointed Kelle Saull as Gernert’s attorney.
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Leuthold thought Julia Petrella’s time served in prison was beneficial for a couple of reasons: it gave her a taste of what prison was like and it got her away from her boyfriend, Chancler Neeley, who was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month.
Petrella, 20, spent under a month in prison for felony 3 burglary before Leuthold granted a motion for judicial release. He placed her on community control for five years and ordered her to have no contact with Neeley.
“You make me sorry (for letting you out of prison), I’ll make you sorrier,” Leuthold warned her.
If Petrella fails on community control, she could return to prison to serve her two-year sentence.
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