By Gary Ogle and Krystal Smalley
gogle@wbcowqel.com; ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Three women on probation returned to Crawford County Pleas Court on Wednesday morning. When they left, all three were on their way to prison.
Twenty-six-year-old Keelie Moyer was one of three people, including her husband, arrested last year at a Galion drug bust. Moyer pleaded guilty in late November to felony three drug trafficking and drug possession. At that time she was placed on community control for five years.
Wednesday, Moyer admitted she violated terms of that probationary program in multiple ways, including using marijuana and having a positive drug test, using alcohol, and failing to attend mandated counseling.
“What did you think was going to happen?” Judge Sean Leuthold asked Moyer. “I’m pretty frustrated.”
Leuthold sentenced Moyer to 48 months in prison, but did say he would consider a motion for early release after she had served a significant portion of the sentence.
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Thirty-three-year-old Tara Painter also admitted to allegations she violated her probation. Adult Probation authority Dan Wurm outlined Painter’s failure to complete the court’s ISAT program.
As the judge noted, Painter’s case started out as an intervention in lieu of conviction placement, followed by a conviction and placement on community control and then finally the ISAT program.
“This breaks my heart,” Leuthold said. “A number of people bent over backwards . . . . thought you were doing well.”
The judge went on to say that for those who continued to use heroin in spite of counseling and treatment, often incarceration is in the best interest of the individual to provide them several months of sobriety.
“I believe it is necessary to protect Ms. Painter,” the judge said in sentencing her to 11 months in prison. In encouraging her to stay actively involved in treatment and sobriety when she was released, he added, “I know there are people who care for you and you need to take advantage of that.”
Painter, when offered the opportunity to speak, tearfully thanked the court and all the people who tried to help her. Painter’s original conviction was for drug possession.
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Leuthold regretted that he had to send 20-year-old Samantha Sadowski, of Bucyrus, to prison, but felt it was the best decision for the woman who was unable to abide by the Intensive Supervision and Treatment (ISAT) program.
Sadowski admitted to failing to comply with the ISAT program and possessing a dangerous substance.
Leuthold said Sadowski had been having problems over the last six weeks. “The last thing I want to do is send her to prison,” Leuthold said. “You know darn well I did everything I could to help you. Everything.”
He reminded Sadowski that consequences were a fact of life.
“I do want to thank you for the ISAT program,” Sadowski said as she struggled through her emotions. She also credited the ISAT program for helping her stay sober for 10 months. “I take full responsibility for my actions.”
“This day started out bad and just got worse,” Leuthold said. “This is probably the worst thing I’ve had to do today.”
Leuthold sentenced Sadowski to eight months in prison.
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There were several other cases heard in the morning court session Wednesday including two arraignments.
Joseph Lawhun was arraigned on a felony five theft charge and David Sousa on a felony five breaking and entering indictment. Both cases were referred from the Crawford County Grand Jury and Leuthold set bond for both men at $50,000. Brian Gernert was appointed to represent Lawhun and Sebastian Berger to represent Sousa.
Regina Moore was in court on a hearing regarding revoking her status in the intervention in lieu of conviction program. Moore was originally charged with theft when she was placed into the program in 2013. Her bond was set at $50,000 and Kylie Martin was appointed to represent her.
Stephanie Arbogast had an initial hearing on allegations she violated community control. Arbogast was placed on community control following her conviction in 2013 for felony five drug possession.
Arbogast’s alleged violations included consuming alcohol and being arrested on a charge of OVI. Bond was set at $100,000 and Brad Starkey was appointed to represent her.
Andrew Young and William Ziegler Jr. were both sentenced to five years of community control following pre-sentence investigations resulting from previous guilty pleas.
Zeigler had pleaded guilty to two counts of felony five drug possession and was also placed in the court’s ISAT program.
Young had also pleaded guilty to two counts of felony five drug possession.
Both men were fined the mandatory $1,250 fine and given mandatory driver’s license suspensions.