BUCYRUS — A Bucyrus man appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Thursday to admit to charges affected by the Reagan Tokes act.
Joshua Dobrilovic, 30, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs (meth), a first-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison. This case qualifies under the Reagan Tokes Act which allows the department of rehabilitation and corrections to add up to four years to Dobrilovic’s sentence or reduce it by 5-15% depending on his behavior while in prison.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold was careful to explain the Tokes Act to Dobrilovic before he pleaded guilty.
“Because this qualifies under the Reagan Tokes Act, this becomes an indefinite sentence. Based on your behavior in prison, good or bad, your sentence can be reduced or increased by as much as 50 percent,” Leuthold said. “In your case you could serve up to 12 years on this charge depending on the evaluation of your behavior by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Good behavior can reduce the sentence by 5-15 percent.”
Leuthold imposed the full eight-year prison sentence. Dobrilovic will receive 95 days of jail time credit and was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department.
The Reagan Tokes Act was signed into law in December 2018 and applies to all first-, second- and certain third-degree felonies. Tokes, a senior at Ohio State University was only 21 years old when she was kidnapped, raped and murdered by a felon who had been recently released from prison.
The act is designed to improve controls over felons, their release and supervision. Brian Goldsby, who is serving a life sentence for Tokes’ murder, was wearing a GPS monitor but committed at least six crimes before murdering Tokes.
Dobrilovic’s attorney, Joel Spitzer, told the court his client, originally from Mississippi, had shown genuine remorse for his actions. He said his client had never committed a felony in the past.
“Well, you picked the wrong county. I’m sure the guys at the jail have filled you in. This is not the county to pull this kind of nonsense in,” Leuthold said. “Behave yourself in prison. If, at some time in the future, a release is presented, your behavior in prison is going to be a factor.”
In other court action, Milton Reed, 24, of Mansfield pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. In October 2018, Reed was placed on five years of community control after he pleaded guilty to one count of having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony punishable with up 18 months in prison. Reed also pleaded guilty to a new charge of having weapons under disability, another third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
According to probation officer Mark Alspach, Reed was stopped by Galion Police for driving while under suspension and had in his possession a 40-caliber handgun. He also tested positive for drugs including heroin, morphine and oxycodone.
In a plea agreement, Leuthold imposed 18 months in prison on the original charge and 12 months on the new charge for a total of 30 months in prison.
“You seem like a smart guy but you gotta get out of this lifestyle or it’s going to kill you,” Leuthold said. “Don’t come over here and do this stuff. This is the worst county in the world to do this.”
John Parker, 36, incarcerated at the Marion Correctional Institution, appeared in court on a motion for judicial release. Parker served 30 months of a 59-month sentence. He was sentenced to prison in 2017 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of breaking and entering, each a fifth-degree felony and each punishable with up to 12 months in prison and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison.
When asked if he had anything to say, Parker tearfully addressed the court,
“I want to thank you for saving my life. I overdosed three times that summer,” Parker said. “Prison gave me a lot of time to think. Thank you for giving me the chance to be a better person and father.”
“If you would have died, that is a memory your children would have carried with them for the rest of their lives,” Leuthold said. “You can be a good dad or a dead dad. Only you can decide which memory they are going to have. You have a lot of time hanging over your head. Don’t mess this up.”
Dennis Evans, 39, 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 Evans to five years of community control. He must complete a drug and alcohol assessment and treatment if prescribed. He will forfeit all drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department.