DELAWARE, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A former Bucyrus attorney has lost his appeal challenging the length of his prison sentence, while almost simultaneously seeking early release based on newly surfaced allegations involving the presiding judge in his case.
Adam Stone had argued that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences and should have merged the two cases against him. However, the Fifth District Court of Appeals rejected that claim and upheld his sentence.
Stone is currently serving a four-and-a-half-year prison term following his conviction for telecommunications fraud and attempted impersonation of a peace officer.
According to court filings, Stone has now petitioned for judicial release in the Delaware County Common Pleas Court. The motion, filed April 20, 2026, is based on what Stone describes as newly uncovered text messages exchanged between Judge James Schuck and a prosecutor involved in the case.
Stone was sentenced in August 2025 by Schuck, who imposed the maximum penalty. In his filing, Stone alleges the messages contain “derogatory comments” about him, his defense attorney, and the elected prosecutor, raising concerns about potential bias in the sentencing.
Stone’s motion states he is troubled by how the judge’s alleged conduct may have influenced the severity of his punishment.
In response, an attorney spokesperson for Judge Schuck said he had reviewed all the text messages and found nothing that would compromise the integrity of the case.
The motion for judicial release remains under review.