Woman sentenced after delivering baby that tested positive for drugs

BUCYRUS — Two women appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to be sentenced after they each gave birth to babies addicted to drugs.

Amber Booher of Bucyrus was placed on community control in April after she pleaded guilty to one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison and one count of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.

According to probation officer Dan Wurm, Booher, 30, violated the terms and conditions of her community control when she gave birth to a newborn on July 28 that tested positive for meth, methamphetamines and buprenorphine. Wurm also alleged that Booher stopped reporting for office visits in August. She later tested positive for meth, methamphetamines and buprenorphine. Booher admitted to those violations.

Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold asked Booher if she had anything she wanted to say before sentencing.

“I was told by Children’s Services that the baby’s cord tested positive for drugs and not the baby,” Booher said.

“I don’t find that a mitigating factor. If the cord which provides nutrients to the baby is positive, it only makes sense the baby is positive as well,” Leuthold said. “They just tested the cord not the baby. I don’t have to tell you how terrible this is. I’m too tired to yell at you, I’m tired of people who say that drug addiction is a victimless crime.

“It infuriates me, Leuthold continued. “Drug addicts commit thefts and other crimes, but an innocent child who is affected is even worse. Children are also often abused after birth because meth addicts are not the most responsible with their drugs and often times the children get exposed to the drug.”

Booher told the court her mother had custody of the newborn child who appears healthy. She said her mother also had custody of her other four children. Booher said none of the fathers, who were also addicts, were involved in the children’s lives.

“Your mother now has to raise three children and a newborn because of this,” Leuthold said. “You’re 30 years old. You’re still a young woman. You can turn this around. I’m going to make sure you’re clean for the next 24 months. After that, the ball is in your court.”

Leuthold imposed 12 months in prison on each count for a total of 24 months.

In other court action, Courtney Davis of Galion was taken into custody after she tested positive for marijuana. Davis, 21, had been on felony probation after pleading guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, each fifth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 12 months in prison.

Davis also gave birth to a baby born that tested positive for marijuana in its system. Leuthold ordered Davis held until a full hearing could be set to address the violations of her community control. Davis is represented by court-appointed attorney Tani Eyer.

Shawnda Sexton, 31, of Bucyrus appeared in court to answer to charges she violated the terms and conditions of her community control. Sexton was sentenced to 48 months in prison in 2017 for trafficking in drugs. She was granted judicial release and placed on community control in March 2018.

Sexton was charged with theft in April by the Chillicothe Police Department and failed to report the contact and conviction to her supervising officer. On October 29, Sexton tested positive for THC, meth, methamphetamines and had the same in her possession along with drug abuse instruments.

Leuthold set Sexton’s bond at $75,000. Sexton refused a court-appointed attorney, saying her family was hiring a lawyer to represent her. Leuthold told Sexton to get the name of her attorney to the court because the allegations would be set for a hearing within a week.

Austin Cox, 21, of Crestline admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Cox was placed on community control in 2018 after he pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs, each a fifth-degree felony and each punishable with up to 12 months in prison.

Cox admitted to being convicted of petty theft in Crestline Mayor’s Court in July. Cox also tested positive for marijuana and meth. He admitted to possessing marijuana.

Leuthold sentenced Cox to six months in prison on each count for a total of 18 months behind bars. He told Cox he would not oppose transitional control if the prison requested it.

Liza Beidelschies, 37, of Bucyrus was sentenced to a flat seven months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.

Beidelschies was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the appropriate agency. Leuthold told her he would not oppose transitional control in her case.

Nicholas Biederman, 33, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. Leuthold sentenced Biederman to a flat seven months in prison.