BUCYRUS — Robert Skaggs, formerly of Kentucky but currently incarcerated at the Crawford County Jail, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday for what was to be a change of plea hearing.
Skaggs, 45, is charged with one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison. Skaggs had been free after posting bond through Gina Powell of American Bail Bonds in Galion.
Skaggs was originally scheduled to appear for a pretrial on April 1. Skaggs’ attorney, Michael Siewert, appeared on his behalf and told the court that Skaggs was displaying symptoms of COVID-19. He said he had a video in which Skaggs showed a thermometer displaying a 104-degree temperature.
At that hearing, Powell asked for and was given relief of the bond after telling the court Skaggs had not kept her informed of his address.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold decided to err on the side of caution and set the final pretrial for the following Wednesday, April 8. That time, Skaggs appeared in court with his attorney.
As is routine in cases where bond is granted, a drug test was given to Skaggs prior to the hearing. Skaggs tested positive for meth and methamphetamines and was taken into custody, where he has remained until Monday’s scheduled change of plea.
Leuthold ordered a drug and alcohol assessment to be completed on Skaggs to see if he might be eligible for the Prosecutor’s Intervention in Lieu of Prosecution program. This special program allows offenders to complete intervention successfully and then have the felony charge removed from their permanent record.
Instead of changing his plea, Skaggs informed the court that he wished to withdraw from the offer.
“Mr. Skaggs maintains his innocence and doesn’t believe the assessment,” Skaggs’ attorney, Michael Siewert, said.
“You mean this evaluation is nonsense? He’s changed his mind?” Leuthold asked.
Siewert asked the court for a motion to suppress hearing which Leuthold granted. Siewert also asked for a personal recognizance bond for Skaggs.
“My client will have to make a trip to Nashville to pay rent at this other residence and then he will reside in this community where he has ties,” Siewert said.
Leuthold asked assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler his thoughts on bond. Hoovler asked for a $250,000 bond to protect Skaggs and others from his drug use.
“He cannot follow the orders of bond,” Hoovler said.
Leuthold agreed with Hoovler .
“You posted bond and then tested positive for meth. The bonding agent wanted off the bond because you were not complying with bond terms,” Leuthold said. “Since you did not comply with the terms when you were out on bond before, I’ll set bond at $150,000.”
Leuthold ordered the hearing on the motion to suppress be set as soon as possible.
In other court action, Amanda Ellison, 35, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of her community control. Ellison was placed on community control in May after she pleaded guilty to one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison. According to allegations, Ellison tested positive for meth and methamphetamines during a routine drug screen.
In a plea negotiation, Ellison will spend the next nine months in prison. Leuthold said he would not oppose transitional control if the prison requested it.
Matthew Sharp, 23, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assaulted, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison. In a plea agreement, Sharp will spend a flat one year in prison. Hoovler told the court his office had been unable to contact the victim in the case.
Leuthold ordered Sharp to pay restitution to the victim in an amount to be determined. He is to have no contact with the prison. Sharp will receive 47 days of jail time credit.