By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
If anyone believed the local battle against addiction and drug use was in its final chapter, they need only to have been in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to realize that the battle is far from over.
Two people were sentenced to prison Wednesday and two more placed in Judge Sean Leuthold’s ISAT program, while yet another was placed into the CBCF program.
“I fear if I lose you out of the program, I’ll pick up the paper and find you dead,” the judge told Brooke Castle. “I don’t want to see you die. If I have to send you to prison to keep you alive, I will.”
Castle’s case was particularly emotional for both Castle and Leuthold because of her involvement in ISAT and her recovery. However, Castle admitted to violating her community control after three positive drug screens.
Castle was sentenced to prison for 12 months, but will be released in 30 days to the CBCF or some other similar program.
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Joseph Lawhun also admitted to violating community control and was sentenced to eight months in prison. Lawhun admitted to driving under suspension, driving with fictitious license plates and testing positive for opiates.
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Nicole Taylor was the first to appear before the judge in a change of plea hearing and immediately got the judge’s attention with her attitude. For that she received a strong rebuke and warning before her hearing continued.
When it did, she pleaded guilty to felony 4 theft and felony 5 drug possession. Taylor was placed on five years of community control and placed into the ISAT program before being released from the county jail.
“About half my kids graduate and go on to great things,” Leuthold said about the ISAT program. “The other half go to prison. Be in the good half.”
Leuthold repeated that message to Healea Walter who pleaded guilty to felony 5 drug possession. Walter was also placed on community control and into the ISAT program.
Keelie Moyer admitted to violating community control as a result of being arrested for disorderly conduct in Mansfield and consuming alcohol.
“This is it. This is the last one,” Leuthold told Moyer. “You mess it up, you’re back to finishing your prison time.”
Moyer has served approximately 10 months of a 48-month prison sentence for drug trafficking and drug possession.
Heath Davis and Jason Dean made initial appearances on allegations they violated community control. Davis’ bond was set at $150,000 and Dean’s at $200,000.