By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

A Bucyrus man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated robbery Monday.

Neither the prosecution nor Judge Russell Wiseman looked lightly upon Kory St. Clair’s offense when the 21-year-old man appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to plead guilty to the first degree felony. Rather than the maximum 11-year prison sentence, St. Clair was sentenced to 10 years in prison with jail time credit of 196 days. Judicial release may be recommended after five years have been served. St. Clair was fined $2,500 and was ordered to pay $758.35 in restitution to the victim.

St. Clair admitted to inflicting physical harm on an elderly woman during a theft and immediately fleeing the scene. The offense took place on June 24.

Bucyrus police chief Dave Koepke stated earlier this year that the crime was very bold to have taken place in a parking lot.

St. Clair had followed an 82-year-old female from the Bucyrus Wal-Mart store and into the parking lot where he stole her purse. The victim was knocked to the ground and suffered an injury. Her purse was found on the roadway at Teddy Avenue nearly 30 minutes later.

“It’s just a terrible attack on an elderly (person),” Koepke had said at the time.

Judge Wiseman noted during the hearing that he had received photos of the victim.

“I’ve seen the photos,” Wiseman said. “They’re shocking, despicable. You are the type of person I took office for to stop.”

Wiseman said he would go ahead with the agreement since it was near the maximum that could be imposed. He added that no one could find where St. Clair had gone wrong in his life.

“You’ve been a major disappointment to the people who have helped you over the years,” Wiseman said. “You’re a big time criminal now.”

“I would just like to say I’m sorry,” St. Clair said as he turned toward the victim’s family sitting in the courtroom. He apologized directly to the victim and her family.

Eric Cameron pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and landed a 10 month prison sentence. The 28-year-old Galion man admitted to receiving a credit card that he knew was obtained through a theft offense on Oct. 29. He told Judge Wiseman that he had found it.

Cameron was sentenced to a total of ten months in prison for the felony five offense with jail time credit of 69 days. Cameron must also pay a $1,250 fine and $1,357.91 in restitution.

Joseph McDaniel II may have pleaded guilty to breaking and entering but his sentencing will have to wait a bit. As part of McDaniel’s plea agreement, his sentencing will be handled by the court after a pre-sentence investigation is concluded.

McDaniel admitted to trespassing at 320 W. Church St. in Galion with the purpose to commit a theft offense in September of 2013. The structure was unoccupied at the time.

The maximum sentence McDaniel could receive is 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine.

Joseph Vanderkooi’s community control was extended to five years when he admitted he needed extra help. The 23-year-old Galion man appeared in court for community control violations on two cases. Vanderkooi allegedly tested positive for numerous drugs in December. His community control was extended with the stipulation that he enter into the Volunteers of America program.

Jordan Noel appeared in court for a hearing on counsel and an initial hearing on his community control violations. The 20-year-old Bucyrus man had previously told the court that he would attempt to hire his own attorney. Due to his inability to do so, however, Wiseman appointed attorney Tim O’Leary as Noel’s counsel. He is currently being held on bond for a 2014 felonious assault case.

Noel was continued on his community control in a 2012 burglary case. He was alleged to have violated his community control when he caused physical harm to another person in October and failed to report to his office visit in September.

It certainly was not a happy birthday for 20-year-old Levi Shaw Monday. The Galion man appeared in Common Pleas Court for an arraignment hearing for receiving stolen property. Attorney O’Leary was appointed as his counsel and Shaw was released on a personal recognizance bond.