By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Police busted Nickolas Arrendondo for the second time at the same house and for the same reason last December, so it is no surprise that he will be doing a second stint in prison.
Arrendondo, who will turn 26 next week, was arrested by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 3 after law enforcement discovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine at 8023 ½ Ohio 103, Plymouth. The bust closely resembled the seizure that occurred at the same residence in April of 2014 when officers discovered chemicals used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, prescription pills, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and cash.
Arrendondo pleaded guilty in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Monday morning to the illegal manufacturing of drugs (second-degree felony), the illegal assembly of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs (third-degree felony), having weapons under disability (third-degree felony), and possessing drugs (fifth-degree felony).
“This is a very troubling case,” Judge Sean Leuthold said. “Basically the same behavior in nearly the exact same spot.”
He noted that lengthy plea negotiations had been ongoing since last week.
Leuthold sentenced Arrendondo seven years in prison for the illegal manufacture of drugs, 24 months for the illegal assembly of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, and 12 months each for having weapons under disability and possessing drugs. The sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 11 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Arrendondo will be placed on post-release control for a mandatory three years. He must also pay a $10,000 fine and forfeit a firearm and drug paraphernalia seized by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Arrendondo served just 10 months of his 36-month prison sentence in the 2014 meth lab case. Leuthold released him in March of 2015 as per the agreement put in place by former judge Russell Wiseman. Arrendondo was terminated unsuccessfully from community control in that case on Monday and the subsequent probation violations were dismissed.
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