BUCYRUS — What began as a community control violation ended in contempt charges Thursday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
William Blackert, 42, of Harpster appeared to answer to charges that he violated the terms and conditions of his community control. Blackert was sent to prison in January 2016 after he pleaded guilty to failure to comply, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison.
Blackert was sentenced to two years in prison and his driver’s license was suspended for life. He was granted judicial release in June 2016 and placed under the Adult Parole Authority supervision of Officer Dan Wurm.
According to current supervising officer Eric Bohach, Blackert’s case was transferred to him in January. Bohach testified that he tried several times to contact Blackert with no success. At one point, Wurm was able to reach Blackert and informed him of the change in his supervision.
Bohach continued to try to contact Blackert until March 9 when he ordered Blackert arrested and charged with failure to appear for scheduled office visits. Blackert was given a routine drug test upon arrest which proved positive for meth and methamphetamines.
Bohach said that Blackert didn’t believe the test could have been positive so Bohach then sent the specimen to a lab for further testing which confirmed the original test results.
During the proceedings, Blackert became aggressive and loud in court. He screamed at Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold using profanities. Leuthold warned him to compose himself and he continued to swear at the court. Leuthold had him charged with contempt of court and escorted out for a brief recess.
When Blackert returned to the courtroom, he apologized to Leuthold.
“I apologize. I had no right to talk that way in court,” Blackert said.
“I accept your apology but I’m still charging you with contempt of court,” Leuthold said.
In plea negotiation, Blackert pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Leuthold reimposed the two-year sentence. He also sentenced Blackert to 30 days in jail for the contempt charge, but Leuthold decided to run the 30-day sentence concurrently with Blackert’s prison time.
“Look, I’ve known of you a long time. You were always a nice guy. Now you’re in here with your head all shaved and acting crazy,” Leuthold said. “You’re doing meth and meth changes your personality. For the love of God stay away from that stuff,” Leuthold said.
In other court action, Michelle Allen, 38, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
Leuthold sentenced Allen to five years of community control. She must complete drug and alcohol assessments and follow up treatment. If she fails to successfully complete community control. Allen faces up to one year in prison.
Ronnie Thompson, 41, formerly of Mansfield, pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Thompson was sentenced to one year in prison in August after he pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison. He was granted judicial release in September and placed on community control.
Thompson admitted to possessing a bottle of fake urine to alter a drug test. He ultimately tested positive for and admitted to using Suboxone.
Leuthold reimposed the one-year prison sentence. Thompson will receive credit for prison time served as well as 33 days of jail time credit.