BUCYRUS — Jerry Harper of Galion appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Monday.
Harper, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison, one count of pandering obscenities involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison and one count of disseminating material harmful to a minor, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
As part of a plea agreement Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold put details on the record. Leuthold noted that the victim and Harper met on the internet and exchanged pictures, then met in person. Leuthold noted that while the victim in the case is not a younger child, she was no less a victim.
“Mr. Harper is not a pedophile, he is a certified idiot and I’m going to treat him like an idiot,” Leuthold said. “He’s going to prison and he will have to register as a Tier II sex offender every six months and in person for the next 25 years. We don’t tolerate this stuff in Crawford County.”
Leuthold sentenced Harper to 18 months in prison on the unlawful sexual contact charge, one year on the pandering charge and six months on the dissemination charge for a total of three years in prison. He designated Harper a Tier II sex offender.
“Look, part of this sentence is that you have no contact with the victim, even if she is turns 18,” Leuthold said. “No contact at all. You made a horrible decision here. I’m going to be keeping an eye on you for a very long time and if anything happens, all thunder is coming down on you.”
In other court action, a woman who appeared last week for a community control violation before Magistrate Tim Roston and begged for a second chance, landed herself right back in front of Leuthold.
Cheris Morczek, 34, of Prospect was accused of violating her probation after she tested positive this morning for methamphetamines and amphetamines during an office visit with adult probation.
Morczek told the court she had a job orientation and needed to be able to work. Roston gave her a second chance but ordered her in daily for drug testing. He warned her that if she ended up back in the court, Judge Leuthold would not be happy with her.
Morczek was held this morning when she came for testing and tested positive for meth and methamphetamines. Attorney Tani Eyer was appointed to represent her and Morczek decided for forgo the full hearing and plead guilty to violating the terms and conditions of her community control.
Morczek had been on community control for felony non-support, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison. In a plea agreement, Morczek was sentenced to one year in prison with a possible judicial release in the future.
Jarrod Matney, 33 of Galion pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, each fourth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 18 months in prison. In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced him to prison for six months on each count for a total of one year in prison. He was ordered to pay full restitution to two victims. Matney will receive 39 days of jail time credit.
Okey McMillion III, 33, of Bucyrus appeared in court to ask for a new attorney. McMillion was appointed attorney Tom Nicholson of Bucyrus after he was charged with tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. He is also facing a potential new charge of possession of fentanyl, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
“When a defendant has a significant amount of prison in front of them, I want them to be happy with their attorney. But look, we are not playing musical attorneys here,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold appointed Jerry Thompson as McMillion’s new attorney.
Robert Chavis, 30, appeared in court to answer allegations he violated the terms and conditions of his community control. Chavis was sentenced to prison for 18 months in November 2017 for theft, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. He was granted judicial release in March 2018 and placed on community control.
According to probation officer Eric Bohach on August 20, Chavis tampered with evidence and tested positive for meth, methamphetamines, ecstasy, and THC.
Leuthold ordered the matter set for a full hearing and attorney Geoff Stoll was appointed to represent Chavis.
“I’m very concerned for Mr. Chavis’ safety,” Leuthold said. “With this cocktail of drugs in his system, I am concerned about his safety. Bond is set at $50,000.”