BUCYRUS – Tara Sandlin, 26, of Bucyrus, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday for a full hearing on allegations she violated conditions of her community control.
Originally Sandlin was placed on probation in two separate cases. She pleaded guilty to one count of felony non-support, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison, and one count of aggravated assault, a felony of the fourth degree punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
In a full hearing, evidence was presented from the state and defense on the violation allegations.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler called probation officer Eric Bohach to testify about the allegations.
Bohach told the court he had received a tip that drugs were being trafficked out of Sandlin’s residence. Bohach called Sandlin into his office, where she failed a routine drug screen. She tested positive for methamphetamines. When Hoovler asked Bohach if Sandlin admitted the drug use, Bohach told the court, “It was kind of one of those (excuses that)someone must’ve put it in my drink things. Not a direct admission.”
Bohach testified that Sandlin, her fiancé (also the victim in her assault case), their child, and a convicted felon John Fletcher lived in the dwelling.
Bohach told the court when he searched the premises, he found drug paraphernalia, including scales and a pipe. Upon arrival at the residence, Bohach said he encountered two men outside. They secured the two pit bulls belonging to Sandlin so Bohach could enter. He was told later that as he entered the house, another man jumped out the window. That man was later arrested on a separate matter and turned out to be John Fletcher.
On cross-examination, Sandlin’s attorney Ed Bibler had Bohach explain where he found the paraphernalia in the home. Bohach told the court the instruments were found in a closet that shared a common wall with the child’s bedroom and that of Fletcher. He also told the court that he did not send the drug test to a lab for confirmation.
Defense attorney Bibler called Sandlin’s fiancé John Taylor to take the stand. Taylor told the court that he rented a bedroom to Fletcher on the opposite side of his daughter’s closet.
On cross-examination, Taylor admitted there was a lot of traffic in and out of the residence but that it was in the back of the place.
In closing arguments, Ryan Hoovler asked the court to impose prison on Sandlin for violating community control by testing positive for drugs, possessing paraphernalia, and associating with a convicted felon.
Attorney Bibler asked for a continuance of her community control. He noted that there was no lab-confirmed test and no proof that she possessed the paraphernalia.
Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold said he was particularly concerned that drug paraphernalia was so close to where the child slept.
Leuthold told the court that by a preponderance of the evidence, Sandlin had violated her community control after testing positive for drugs. He said the state had not proven that the paraphernalia was Sandlin’s.
Leüthold said he wanted some time to decide Sandlin’s fate. He ordered sentencing set in the next few days. “Mr. Bibler, I want to make you aware that if I sentence your client to prison, there will not be a report date in this case. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do, but I want you to know that.” Leuthold said.