BUCYRUS — Michael Campbell of Bucyrus but currently housed in the Crawford County Jail appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
Campbell, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply and one count of tampering with evidence, each third-degree felonies and each punishable with up to three years in prison and one count of obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
According to allegations, Campbell fled the Burger King parking lot in Galion and led police on a 10.4-mile high-speed chase in which he exceeded 70 miles per hour.
Campbell later drove through the Bucyrus Elementary School parking lot. While being pursued on Route 19 it is alleged that Campbell was driving without his hands on the wheel and was throwing evidence out his window. Campbell told officers he had been on a cocaine binge and hadn’t slept in three days. He was on post release control from prison at the time of the crime.
Before sentencing, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold asked the state for additional information from police reports. Assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that police were called to the Burger King in Galion because a person there was acting erratic. Officers attempted to talk to Campbell and one officer’s hand was on the roof of the van when Campbell put the vehicle in reverse and fled.
Campbell’s attorney, Brian Gernert, told the court Campbell had expressed remorse from the beginning.
“He recognized his lapse in judgment and is here to take care of business,” Gernert said.
Leuthold noted that he had seen Campbell in his court before.
“You seem like a good guy until you use drugs and don’t sleep for three days and then you’re not a good guy,” Leuthold said. “Most crack now has meth laced in it because meth is cheaper. People on meth are nervous, paranoid and prone to behaving like this.”
“I was clean for 12 months. I was trying to get the van home to my wife, so they didn’t take it,” Campbell said. “I have three grandbabies to take care of. I was driving on a suspended license.”
“Well, Mr. Campbell, when you fell off the wagon you fell with both feet. It’s nice that you wanted to get the van home to your wife to take care of the grand babies,” Leuthold said. “But don’t you think the best way to take care of them is not to take drugs in the first place? It’s simple, you get into trouble when you use drugs, so don’t use drugs.”
Leuthold sentenced Campbell to three years in prison on count one, one year on count two, and six months in prison on count three for a total of 54 months in prison. He will receive 90 days of jail time credit. Leuthold also suspended Campbell’s driving privileges for life.
“You can appeal to me to get your license back but under these circumstances it’s going to be very hard to convince me,” Leuthold said.
In other court action, Michael Law, 40, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced Law to five years of community control. He is to have no contact with the victim in the case.
Wesley Pitt, 54, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of the prosecutor’s diversion program. Pitt was placed on diversion after he pleaded guilty to one count of identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison. Assistant prosecutor Hooveler asked that Pitt be terminated from the program after he was charged with two new fifth-degree felonies each punishable with up to one year in prison.
In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced Pitt on the violation of diversion and the two new fifth-degree felonies. He will serve five years on community control and ordered him into the judge’s ISAT (Intensive Supervision and Treatment) Program.
Leuthold asked Pitt what was going on in his life that put him in the court system.
“Look, a guy your age does not just start this stuff up this late in life,” Leuthold said. “Prison is not where you want to be.”
Pitt told the court that divorce and bad choices in women resulted in the crimes.
“We are all going to do everything we can to put you on the right track again. ISAT is the best drug treatment program I have,” Leuthold said. “We have good success with this program. But if you screw this up, then the next step for you is prison. I’m not playing games with you. You have three years hanging over your head.”
Leuthold ordered Pitt to have a drug and alcohol assessment and follow up treatment. He will also have to pay $600 in program fees to the prosecutor’s office.