Three sentenced to prison – two for violating probation

It was not a good day for those returning to court to answer for violating their community control. Two found themselves on the way to prison Monday morning.

By Gary Ogle and Krystal Smalley
gogle@wbcowqel.com; ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

It was not a good day for those returning to court to answer for violating their community control. Two found themselves on the way to prison Monday morning.

Damon Harris admitted to violating probation by testing positive multiple times and failing to report as required. Harris made the admission without a plea arrangement in place.

Harris’s attorney, Adam Stone, argued that his client had grown up in Detroit, a completely different culture than Crawford County. And while what he had done was not considered acceptable here, it was more the norm in his hometown. Stone asked for six months in the county jail.

Harris had served approximately two years of a four-year prison sentence for second-degree felony drug possession and Judge Sean Leuthold ordered that he be returned to serve the balance of that sentence.

However, Leuthold left open the possibility of Harris not having to complete the entire sentence by allowing for transitional programs.

Camille Sargent also admitted to violating community control as a result of testing .102 for alcohol within three weeks of going on probation. The judge sentenced her to six months in prison.

Thirty-four-year-old Jonathon Bigelow of Mansfield pleaded guilty to an amended receiving stolen property felony in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Monday afternoon. Bigelow received a six-month prison sentence and a $750 fine.

Danielle Gaston pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging her with fifth-degree felony forgery. The recommended sentence is five years on community control. Gaston remains incarcerated on bond until a pre-sentence investigation is concluded.

Timothy Evans was in court for sentencing. Although Judge Leuthold followed the recommended sentence of five years on community control with substance abuse and anger management counseling, he made it clear he felt Evans was a poor candidate for community control and would likely fail to complete the period successfully.

Judge Leuthold believed community control was the right decision for 21-year-old Megan Dauchenbaugh. The Bucyrus woman pleaded guilty to drug possession nearly three weeks ago and received her sentencing Monday.

Leuthold ordered Dauchenbaugh to serve five years on community control and to complete the court’s Intensive Supervision and Treatment program. She was also fined $1,250, had her driver’s license suspended for six months, and must forfeit drug-related property being held to the Crestline Police Department.

Twenty-nine-year-old Dustin Angel of Oceola struck out with the court when his drug test came out positive during a hearing to revoke him from intervention.

Allegations were brought against Angel that he had failed to report to office visits, failed to maintain his address, and failed to comply with his substance abuse counseling program. As Leuthold appointed Brad Starkey as Angel’s counsel, he also ordered a drug test to be administered immediately. A mouth swab revealed that Angel was positive for THC and marijuana.

Leuthold set bond at $100,000.

April Price was released on a personal recognizance bond after Judge Leuthold heard allegations that he violated the terms of her diversion program. The 34-year-old Bucyrus woman allegedly failed to pay her court costs and restitution despite being on the diversion program for two years.

Leuthold appointed Starkey as her attorney.

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Shawn Higginbotham certainly won’t forget Monday. Not only was it his 36th birthday but he was also released from prison.

Higginbotham was sentenced to 36 months in prison for failure to comply in February but, as part of his plea agreement with the previous judge, he could receive early release. Judge Leuthold was quick to point out that things are run quite different since he took over the bench and judicial release agreements won’t come as easy as it once did.

“There is no way in hell I would’ve approved this deal,” Leuthold lamented. “But I will honor it.”
Leuthold placed Higginbotham on community control for five years and ordered him to pay court costs. A post-sentence investigation was also ordered.

Judge Leuthold issued a warrant for 32-year-old Ronald Carver’s arrest. The Galion man failed to report to office visits as part of his diversion program.