BUCYRUS — Several defendants appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday to enter pleas in their criminal cases.
Nicholas Harvey, 33, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison, one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
In a plea negotiation, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Harvey to two years in prison on each of the third-degree felonies and 11 months in prison on the fifth-degree felony for a total of 59 months in prison.
Leuthold agreed to review a request for judicial release after Harvey serves six months in prison. In addition to prison, Harvey also received a lifetime driver’s license suspension. Harvey may apply for a review of the suspension after five years.
Harvey will forfeit all drug-related property including a knife, sheath, and Samsung cell phone to the appropriate authorities.
Nichelle Gasuras, 51, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of conveyance of illegal items into a detention center, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced Gasuras to three years in prison on the conveyance and charge and one year on the possession charge. The sentences will run concurrently for a total of three years in prison. Leuthold agreed to review a request for judicial release after Gasuras serves six months of her sentence. She was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the appropriate authorities.
Gasuras was given a report date of January 15, 2021 at 7 p.m. to present herself to the Crawford County Sheriff for transport to prison.
Leuthold told Gasuras that she could remain on bond until her report date. However, if she gets into any further trouble, tests positive for drugs or fails to appear for transport she will lose the opportunity for a judicial release.
Trevor Gantz, 29, of Galion appeared in court for a bond revocation hearing. Gantz had been on bond since October when he was charged with possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison and two misdemeanor charges. He posted the $25,000 bond set by Leuthold.
According to allegations, Gantz recently eluded Galion police and in trying to evade them turned into a moving train. Gantz was seriously injured in the incident, spent three days hospitalized and will require further medical treatments in the future.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that with Gantz’s previous imprisonments on drug charges that he was a danger to himself and others.
“He was driving in such a manner that he could not stop for a train,” Hoovler said.
Gantz’s attorney, Tom Nicholson, had no comment for the court.
Leuthold noted that no new charges had yet been filed against Gantz.
“I have to balance the amount of the bond I set in the original case, $25,000, against what is in the best interest of public safety,” Leuthold said. “Your alleged eluding of police resulted in an accident.”
Leuthold raised Gantz’s bond to $100,000.
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, but I don’t trust you,” Leuthold said. “I will consider the furloughs for your medical appointments if you do not make the new bond.”
Tara Breinich, 45, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
Leuthold sentenced Breinich to the maximum sentence of four years in prison with a judicial release slated after she serves six months. She will forfeit all drug-related property to the appropriate authorities including a knife, cell phone, laptop and $227 in cash.
Breinich told the court she was sorry for her actions.
“That’s good to hear. Look you’re not going to be in there that long,” Leuthold said. “But when you come out you have got to stay away from drugs.”
Nicholas Paynter, 27, of Bloomville pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree punishable with up to one year in prison.
Leuthold sentenced Paynter to five years of community control with a review after one year. He will forfeit all drug-related property to the Crawford County Sheriff.
Paynter thanked the court for the opportunity.
“I want to get on with my life. I apologize to this court,” Paynter said. “I promise to become a good, law abiding citizen.”