BUCYRUS — A Bucyrus man appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday to seek judicial release from prison.
Joshua Rex, 33, of Bucyrus was sentenced to four years in prison in February 2019 for felonious assault after a bar fight. Rex appeared in court with his attorney, Patrick Murphy.
Before rendering his decision, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold spoke frankly to Rex.
“There’s no beating around the bush about this,” Leuthold said. “You knocked two guys in what was the slowest punch I’ve ever seen, and I saw the video. This was a bad bar fight. You get a few drinks in you, and you’re a big guy, someone says something that makes you angry and somebody’s lying on the floor.”
Leuthold said he would approve the judicial release but reminded Rex how quickly he would be sent back to prison.
“Mess up and you’ll go back to prison,” Leuthold said. “Let me give you some advice. You’re finally getting out of prison and might think about celebrating and having a drink. Don’t do it. Do you know how often this happens and defendants are right back in front of me? No bars. No booze, period.”
He told Rex if he behaved himself, he might consider letting him off community control earlier than the five years he had imposed. He ordered Rex to have no contact with the victims in any manner including Facebook or other social media.
“If they walk into a restaurant or store, you’re the one who walks out,” Leuthold said. “If you go to McDonalds first and you’re halfway through your quarter pounder and they walk in, you have to leave. If you’re in the grocery store and they walk in, you put your groceries out and leave the store. There will be no bad eyes or mean mugs toward these victims either. I know how it goes. You can say a lot and never open your mouth. You will be respectful to my staff. If you aren’t, I’ll hear about it and it won’t be good for you.”
Leuthold told Rex he wanted to make the terms of his community control very clear.
“If you violate, you’re going back to prison and you have some time hanging over your head,” Leuthold said.
In other court action, Joshua Rankins, 25, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. In a plea agreement, Leuthold sentenced Rankins to a flat six months in prison. He will forfeit all drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department. Rankins will receive jail time credit.
David Alspach, 24, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. In February 2016, Alspach was sentenced to prison for 53 months. He was granted judicial release in October 2019.
According to charges filed by probation officer, Chris Heydinger, he absconded probation in April 2019. He was since charged with falsification and drug possession charges in Mansfield.
Leuthold reimposed the original 53-month sentence.
“If you come out of prison, you’d better not continue to do this in Crawford County. When you get out, I suggest you change things, or you are going right back to prison,” Leuthold said.
Alspach will receive credit for jail time served.
Michael Eldridge, 27, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of escape, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. In a plea agreement, Leuthold sentenced Eldridge to serve a flat 11 months in prison. He will receive credit for jail time served.