BUCYRUS — Stacy Smith of Galion appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday for a hearing to determine sentencing after she admitted to violating the terms and conditions of her community control.
In 2018, Smith, 36, was sentenced to four years in prison after she pleaded guilty to several counts of drug trafficking. She was granted judicial release in April 2019 and placed on five years of community control.
According to probation officer Kylie Sinclair, in May Smith tested positive for meth. The matter was set for hearing and she was permitted to remain out of jail pending the hearing due to overcrowding at the jail. According to Sinclair, Smith has consistently tested negative.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold decided to give Smith a second chance. Smith was ordered to pay arrearages in her child support in addition to all the other orders because she was recently charged with two counts of criminal non-support each fifth-degree felonies punishable with up to one year in prison.
“I am giving you this second chance, but this is literally it. You are now pregnant and have every reason to stay clean,” Leuthold said. “If you mess up, I will send you to prison to keep that baby safe. I’d rather see you in prison than running around pregnant doing drugs.”
In other court action, Levi Rowe, 28, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Rowe originally pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs, each third-degree felonies and each punishable with up to three years in prison.
In August 2017 Rowe was sentenced to four years in prison. He was granted judicial release in December 2017. In January 2019, Rowe was sent back to prison after violating community control. He was sentenced to 18 months on count three of the trafficking charges. After serving 18 months he was placed on community control for the remaining 30 months.
In June, Rowe tested positive for oxycodone which was confirmed by lab testing.
Rowe appeared in court with his retained attorney, Tom Nicholson, who told the court that Rowe had four relapses.
“Mr. Rowe has a lot of good and bad in him. He hired me as counsel to take the burden off the state,” Nicholson said. “He has a business to close down. So, we would ask the court for a report date.”
When asked if he had anything to say, Rowe told the court he had been a 10-year addict and that he had been pushing to get it under control.
It took this for me to face my addiction. I want to go back to treatment,” Rowe said.
“You had your chance, your orders to get assessment and treatment and you never followed through. This would be your third chance,” Leuthold said. “The prison has plenty of programs and I suggest you take part in them. I want you to succeed, for the love of God.”
Instead of imposing the full 30-month sentence, Leuthold did give Rowe a break and sentenced him to 15 months in prison. He terminated the other count as unsuccessful.
Leuthold gave Rowe a report date to be at the Crawford County Sheriff’s office of September 4 at 7 p.m. to be transported to prison.
“I wish you good luck,” Leuthold said.