By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Jonathan Bloomfield’s proverbial first bite of the apple in the judicial system proved to be bitter and tough to swallow when he became the third person arrested during a drug bust on April Fool’s Day to be sentenced.
Bloomfield, who had been held on a $1 million bond since last week on charges of drug trafficking and drug possession, appeared in Common Pleas Court Thursday and pleaded guilty to a bill of information on drug trafficking, a second-degree felony. It is the first felony conviction for the 26-year-old Bloomfield.
Bloomfield was sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting that he had trafficked in drugs in amounts between 10 and 50 grams of heroin from March 1 to April 1.
Judge Sean Leuthold told Bloomfield, “If I could give you more than eight years, I might do that.”
His driver’s license was suspended for six months and he must pay a $7,500 mandatory drug fine. Bloomfield was also ordered to forfeit any drug-related property being held to the Bucyrus Police Department.
“Obviously, this is a serious offense,” stated Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler. “The fact that the defendant has taken responsibility . . . I think the recommendation is a fair sentence to the facts involved in this case.”
“This is my client’s first true felony,” said defense attorney Adam Stone. “He successfully completed treatment in lieu of conviction previously. He’s struggled with this addiction for a long time. He knows he’s lived wrong – that he did wrong. He’s not making any excuses for what he did. He’s taking responsibility.”
Though Bloomfield declined to make a statement on his own behalf, the judge chose to weigh in on the matter.
“Working in the defendant’s favor is the fact that this is a first actual felony,” Leuthold said. “However, trafficking in drugs is a very serious crime.”
Leuthold also believed that the maximum sentence was appropriate in Bloomfield’s case.
“Mr. Bloomfield, addiction explains behavior, it doesn’t excuse behavior,” Leuthold said. “It certainly doesn’t excuse selling heroin in our community. People who sell heroin, sell drugs are destroying this community.”
Leuthold added that those selling drugs had no thought for what was good for the county or for the people living there. “Every balloon of heroin that you sold could potentially kill someone or certainly destroy someone’s life,” Leuthold said.
“(When) you get out of prison you’re still going to be a young man,” Leuthold said to Bloomfield. “You’ve got some decisions to make.”
Two of Bloomfield’s co-defendants from the drug sting were sentenced Tuesday. Leeann Dalton received 24 months in prison for violating her probation and admitting to possessing drugs. Adam Chapman was sentenced to eight months in prison for violating his community control.
The case is still pending for Michael Bloomfield, the final person arrested as a result of the drug sting.
Caitlynne Lambright may not have originally wanted to accept the plea deal offered to her but after careful consideration she finally accepted the deal Thursday afternoon.
Lambright pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving stolen property and received two 10-month prison sentences. Those sentences will be served concurrently for a total of 10 months. Lambright must also pay $150 in restitution.