By Kerry Rahm
krahm@wbcowqel.com
A woman alleged to have impersonated a nurse appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday on charges of practicing medicine without a certificate.
Thirty-year-old Kristin Sweet was brought before Judge Sean Leuthold for arraignment. Sweet pleaded guilty to similar charges in Stark County, where she was arrested on charges of identity fraud, practicing nursing without a license, and deception to obtain drugs. A Stark County judge then sentenced her to three years in prison, although she could be released after 90 days for treatment at a correction center. She faces similar charges here in Crawford County.
Because Sweet’s lawyer was not present, Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on her behalf, set a hearing with her lawyer for pre-trial and set bond of $100,000.
Gary Murphy plead guilty to one count of theft, a felony in the fourth-degree. Murphy was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,598.95 and was sentenced 15 months in prison, with jail time credit. Murphy owned Murphy’s Needful Things and Murphy’s Auto on Washington Square in Bucyrus. The charges stemmed from his operation of those businesses.
Bucyrus Law Director Rob Ratliff had placed Murphy on the city’s Most Wanted list.
RELATED CONTENT: Bucyrus City Council promotes, honors and hunts | Woman who injected husband with heroin sent to prison | New store sells a little bit of everything | New garage open on the square
Blaine Dunlap, convicted of possessing counterfeit controlled substances (a fifth-degree felony), was sentenced to three years of community control, fined $750 and was ordered to complete the ISAT (Intensive Supervision and Treatment) program. His failure to comply would possibly result in twelve months in prison.
Emphasizing this point, Leuthold gave the 20-year-old Dunlap a strong dose of reality: “Once you’re a convicted felon, you’re on probation with me… I own you, you understand that?”
The judge then told him ISAT was an “excellent program,” and “You will have a great opportunity to turn your life around, and I will move heaven and earth to help you.”
RELATED CONTENT: Two sent to prison fro drug-related violations | Rate of felony indictments shows signs of slowing | Missing teen found OK in Ottawa County
Meanwhile, Leuthold saved most of his ire for 20-year-old Kaleb Hicks, telling the man he was “off to a great start in life,” by appearing in court for not one but two cases being addressed. The first concerns the charge of telecommunications fraud, and the second for breaking and entering, theft, and criminal damaging.
According to Leuthold, the three felonies are considered first offenses and Hicks is not prison eligible, and instead received five years community control in both cases and a $750 fine for the theft. Leuthold also stressed the importance of Hicks paying restitution in the amount of $6,502.61 to Hiler’s Service Center in New Washington.
“If he doesn’t pay, he is going to prison,” said Leuthold.
RELATED CONTENT: Two sent to prison for drug-related violations | Nine out of 15 arraignments for drug charges