By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A decade in prison handed down by the Crawford County Common Pleas Court is only the first step in holding Richard Sugden accountable for what Judge Sean Leuthold termed was a crime spree.
Sugden, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery Monday afternoon, both first-degree felonies that occurred on Aug. 24 and 25, 2015. Leuthold sentenced Sugden to 10 years in prison on each count, though the sentences will be served concurrently for a total of 10 years in prison, and fined him $10,000. Sugden will also be placed on mandatory post-release control for five years after his prison sentence is completed.
Sugden’s attorney, Joshua Brown, said the instances, including two aggravated robbery charges in Richland County, occurred over a 10-day period while his client was strung out on heroin.
“The court is not foolish,” Leuthold told Sugden, believing the defendant chose to push through the with arraignment and change of plea hearings in order to get a better deal in Crawford County before possibly being sentenced to concurrent prison time in Richland County.
“There’s no question a substantial prison sentence is necessary,” Leuthold added. “This was clearly a crime spree . . . Your addiction explains your behavior.”
“I talk full responsibility, Your Honor,” Sugden said, later adding, “This could have gone a whole different way, Your Honor. I’m lucky I’m alive.”
Sugden has a sentencing hearing in Richland County on May 23 for the two counts of aggravated robbery.
Twenty-one-year-old Megan Dauchenbaugh escaped prison time, but she will have to make better decisions if she wishes for that to continue. That was the message Leuthold sent the Bucyrus woman after she admitted to violating the terms of her community control.
Dauchenbaugh, who had been placed on community control in October of 2015 for drug possession, admitted on March 28 to a recent use of heroin and failing to comply with the Intensive Supervision and Treatment program. Leuthold continued Dauchenbaugh on community control and ordered her to serve 42 days in the county jail, which she had already completed. As part of her community control, Leuthold stated she would have zero contact with three individuals named by her parole officer.
“I just simply fell into the wrong set of people,” Dauchenbaugh admitted to the judge.
“I think that you can turn your life around, but you have to meet me halfway,” Leuthold said. “There are going to be bad people who will prey on you. I don’t care if you’re 21 or 81 (years old) . . . You have to understand that. There’s people who want the best for you and there’s people who want the best for them.”
RELATED CONTENT: Judge expresses frustration over probation violations | Three sentenced to prison – two for violating probation | Justice moves quickly in case of Tiro man | Busy month for prosecutor: 36 indictments, 26 arraignments | Bucyrus police arrest three on Monday
James Shope was sentenced to five years on community control after a pre-sentence investigation was completed. The 26-year-old Bucyrus man, who previously pleaded guilty to felony 5 drug possession and misdemeanor 2 possession of drug abuse instruments, also received a suspended sentence of 90 days in the county jail, a $1,250 fine, a six-month driver’s license suspension, and entrance into a drug and alcohol treatment program.
RELATED CONTENT: Co-defendants in drug trafficking case held on $500k bonds | Trio arrested in drug bust make initial court appearances | Three arrested in afternoon drug bust
Twenty-nine-year-old Joseph Lawhun, of Bucyrus, pleaded guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony, and had his bond continued in order for a pre-sentenced investigation to be completed. Lawhun’s recommended sentenced included five years on community control and payment of $3,613.75 in restitution.
RELATED CONTENT: Three women go to prison for drug-related probation violations
Twenty-eight-year-old Andrea Lohr, of Bucyrus, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Leuthold continued Lohr’ bond and ordered a pre-sentence investigation. The recommended sentence would include five years on community control, entrance into a drug and alcohol treatment program, a six-month driver’s license suspension, and a $1,250 fine.
RELATED CONTENT: Teen charged with threat to Galion schools is arraigned