BUCYRUS — A Galion mother and son were remanded into custody pending a full hearing on allegations they violated the terms and conditions of their community control.
Stacey Cox, 52, of Galion was originally placed on community control in 2019 after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs and one count of permitting drug abuse, each a fifth-degree felony and each punishable with up to one year in prison.
Cox allegedly tested positive for meth, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs. Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold ordered Cox taken into custody. He appointed attorney Sebastian Berger to represent her and bond was set at $75,000.
Alex Cox, 24, of Galion, the son of Stacey Cox and living with her in Galion was placed on community control in 2019 on one count of possession of drugs and one count of permitting drug abuse, each fifth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to one year in prison.
Cox also pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor of falsification. Cox tested positive for alcohol, meth, cocaine, and fentanyl. Leuthold ordered him taken into custody pending a full hearing on the allegations. Attorney Brian Gernert was appointed to represent him, and bond was set at $75,000.00.
In other court action, Michael Harvey, 35, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to an amended charge of trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, it was recommended that Harvey be sentenced to five years of community control.
“We are on the spot because of this COVID-19 virus in the prisons which is why you are getting a break here,” Leuthold said. “Until the prisons reopen, we have to bite the bullet on a couple of these cases.”
When asked if he had anything to say, Harvey told the court that he was sorry.
“You got lucky this time, but you won’t get lucky again. If you violate, we will make room for you in prison,” Leuthold said.
Roger Keen, 43, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of conveyance of drugs into a detention center, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. Two other charges, possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison and one charge of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, were dismissed.
Leuthold sentenced Keen to three years in prison with a possible judicial release after 30 days and continued community control for five years. He ordered Keen to report to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department for transport to prison on July 15 by 7 p.m.
“Look you have three years in prison hanging over your head; If you mess this up before you report for prison then the deal if off.” Leuthold said.
Keen was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the Galion Police Department.
Alec Webb, 19, formerly of Marion, was charged with violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Webb was sentenced to three years in prison in August 2019 after he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. He was granted judicial release on April 11 and placed on five years of community control.
According to allegations, Webb tested positive for THC and other drugs during a routine drug screen on Monday morning. Webb is also accused of damaging the walls of a holding cell using his handcuffs.
Leuthold inquired as to why Webb did not have a mask on in the courtroom. Personnel told the judge that Webb had become angry when he was taken into custody and tore the mask off, refusing to wear it.
When asked if he had anything to say, Webb told the court he had smoked two joints in prison on April 20 and that it was still in his system when he was tested.
Leuthold ordered the matter be set for a full hearing and appointed Brian Gernert to represent Webb. Bond was set at $25,000.