BUCYRUS — A Galion woman appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday to be sentenced for three felony charges.
Melissa Thomas, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison, one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
As a result of a plea negotiation, Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Thomas to 12 months in prison on each count. Thomas will not be eligible for judicial release.
Leuthold ordered Thomas to forfeit all drug related property and $162.63 in currency to the Galion Police Department. Thomas will receive 75 days of jail time credit.
“I don’t know why you thought dealing drugs in Crawford County was a good idea,” Leuthold said. “But it never works out. I hope you learned your lesson.”
In other court action, Michael Osborne, 26, of Bucyrus appeared in Common Pleas Court to admit to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
During a routine urinalysis administered on November 4, Osborne tested positive for amphetamines, cocaine, fentanyl, morphine and other drugs. Osborne admitted to using the drugs.
Osborne was originally placed on community control in 2017 for two counts of possession of drugs, each a fifth-degree felony and each punishable with up to 12 months in prison. He first violated the terms and conditions of his community control in January and was sent to prison. He was granted judicial release in February.
Leuthold reimposed the 24-month prison sentence. He told Osborne he would not oppose transitional control. When asked if he had anything to say Osborne told the court that he understands the mistakes he made and that going forward he would do the best he could to overcome the drug habit.
“I hope that’s true,” Leuthold said. “I had an interesting experience a few weeks ago. A young lady came up to me, I had sent her and her boyfriend to prison for drugs. She told me it was the best thing that happened to both of them. Prison changed them. They have both been clean for three years and are doing great. You can come out of prison and turn it around or you can be right back here in front of me again and going back to prison. It’s up to you.”
Gary Thomas, 56, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of counterfeiting, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
In a plea negotiation, Thomas was placed on the Prosecutor’s Diversion Program. If Thomas completes the program, all felony charges will be dismissed.