By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Events took an unexpected turn Wednesday for a Willard man who is now going the wrong way on the road to prison with a 30-day delay in the county jail.
Thirty-five-year-old Richard Brant Jr. had a sentencing hearing in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on a charge of fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property. As Brant had no prior felony convictions and was free on a personal recognizance bond, he fully expected to go home given the prosecutor’s recommended sentence was a dismissal of all charges if Brant would pay $1,000 in restitution.
However, a positive drug test for cocaine just prior to the hearing led to a totally different conclusion.
The positive drug test and Brant’s admission to court personnel he had used cocaine within the past few days was a violation of the terms of his personal recognizance bond, and another felony, making Brant prison eligible.
While Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler and Judge Sean Leuthold both expressed concerns about placing Brant on probation, Brant literally pleaded with the judge to be placed on probation instead of sentenced to prison.
Perusing Brant’s pre-sentence investigation report, the judge noted a long and comprehensive record of misdemeanors ranging from domestic violence to petty theft to a myriad of traffic violations including OVI, and driving under suspension and without an operator’s license. To make matters even worse, the judge noted that more than one of the incidents occurred during Brant’s time on the personal recognizance bond.
Looking squarely at Brant, the judge said, “You are obviously not amenable for community control.”
Leuthold sentenced Brant to seven months in prison and included the order for restitution in the amount of $1,000. Brant’s pleas to be allowed to remain free until a reporting date also went unheeded and he was taken into custody immediately.
While still in an anterior entry room of the courtroom, Brant went into a profanity-laced tirade directed at the deputy and other court personnel. Brant was escorted back into the courtroom in handcuffs at which time the judge found him in contempt of court and ordered that he serve a 30-day sentence in the county jail in addition to his prison sentence.
Marcus Lewis admitted to allegations he violated community control. Lewis was sentenced to the remainder of 48 months in prison for convictions for drug possession and illegal conveyance. The county prosecutor’s office agreed not to file any new charges against Lewis.
Jessica Blue was also sentenced to prison for community control violations. Blue will serve the remainder of her 30-months for convictions on charges of drug possession and theft. No new charges will be filed against Blue.
Madeline Crow was sentenced to the remainder of 14 months in prison for violating community control. No new charges will be filed against Crow who was previously convicted earlier this year for drug possession.
Jamie Hall, Devin Thompson, and Scotty Sharrock all pleaded guilty to drug possession charges and will be held on bond while waiting for pre-sentence investigations. The recommended sentences for Hall and Thompson call for five years of community control, completion of a drug and alcohol treatment program, drug fine and driver’s license suspension. Sharrock made his plea without a recommended sentence and will make an argument for sentencing once the pre-sentence investigation is complete.
Terry Thompson was arraigned on a charge of fifth-degree felony forgery. Judge Leuthold set bond at $10,000 and appointed attorney Brian Gernert to represent Thompson.
The judge also denied a motion by Dylan Gray to have his $50,000 bond reduced. Gray is charged with fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property.