By Kathy Laird
Jerraca Leslie, 48, of Mansfield faced a different judge and ended up with a very different outcome when she pleaded guilty to violating conditions of her community control.
She appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court before Judge Sean Leuthold. She was accompanied by her attorney Tom Nicholson. Leslie originally was sentenced on two counts of trafficking in drugs, both third-degree felonies, in 2011 at which time she was sentenced to four years in prison. She was released after serving two years.
In 2014, she was convicted of theft from a Family Video store after stealing $450.00. She was placed on community control by Judge Wiseman and ordered to complete drug and alcohol counseling.
Leslie recently was charged with violating her probation when she was found intoxicated and roaming down Park Ave. in Mansfield.
After accepting her guilty plea on violating her community control, Leuthold allowed both the state and defense to argue their sentence recommendations.
Crawford County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler made a case for Leslie to be returned to prison.
“How many chances are we going to give her,” Hoovler asked. “The history of this case reflects that she was given a chance to get out early and follow the law. She then violated the law and got a theft charge and was given yet another chance. She’s been unable to tow the line.”
Tom Nicholson made the case that Leslie had been a bit of a battered woman; making poor choices in men that led her to break the law. He wanted her community control continued based on the fact that she had a job and place to live.
Nicholson told the court; “In fact your honor, she ended up beating up her boyfriend and throwing him out. She has been brow beat”.
After hearing from Hoovler and Nicholson, Leuthold allowed representatives from two agencies and Leslie’s daughter to speak. Shelley Sterrit of Richland County Children’s Services spoke about Leslie’s participation in the parenting plan they laid out for her. Noting the agency removed the children for safety concerns, she said Leslie did everything they asked her to do including getting a job and apartment and improving her situation little by little. She noted that Leslie was well thought of by her employer who rented her the apartment above his business.
“He is holding her home and her job for her,” Sterrit said.
She told Leuthold that Leslie’s main problem was that she chose the wrong men.
“She moved Luke Mayhen in with her and he had no job, he was using her because she was the money-maker,” Sterrit said.
Leuthold asked Sterrit, “Is this guy a sex offender?”
Sterritt confirmed that he was a sex offender.
Shaking his head, Leuthold said, “I knew that within 3 seconds. They prey on females, they don’t work, it’s disgusting. Let me ask you this, would you return her children to her?”
Sterrit replied “Not at this time.”
Leuthold commended her for her honesty and frankness regarding the case calling it “refreshing.”
A social worker from Family Life Counseling in Mansfield spoke to the fact that at first Leslie did not want to participate in programs, only attending because it was court ordered. The social worker went on to note that after about six months Leslie became willing to participate in various programs and volunteering.
Perhaps the most heartfelt pleas came from the defendant’s 16-year-old daughter who asked the judge not to send her mother back to prison. Leuthold addressed she and her brother, also present in the court room.
“Whether your mom goes to jail or not, she’ll come back,” Leuthold said. “You must worry about yourself. This is a vicious cycle. Your mother is not a good role model. You can do better. Don’t let your life be filled with one jerk after another. Get a degree, don’t get pregnant. Find yourself a decent person. You can do anything you want.
“You don’t have to be like your mom,” Leuthold added. “Just because your parents are a mess doesn’t mean you must be. Think about yourself. Break the cycle. If she doesn’t get her act together, cut her off.”
Leuthold asked Leslie if she had anything to say before he passed sentence.
She stood and said, “I totally take responsibility for my actions. There are no excuses”.
Leuthold commended her for taking responsibility.
“There are two sides to look at here,” Leuthold said.”Are you a victim or a crazy person? You and your boyfriend were both drunk when you got into a fight. You are not some hero throwing a bad guy out of your house. Your behavior is unacceptable. You chose to shack up with a sex offender and then made the horrific decision to leave your children with him.”
Leuthold reimposed the two years left on the original prison sentence, but noted he would not object to transitional control or release to a halfway house in Mansfield in the future.
“You have got to get your act together and be a mother,” Leuthold said.
In addressing the defendant’s children, Leuthold said, “I’m doing what’s best for your mom. You may be mad at me now, but I must protect the public from her and her from herself.”
Leslie will be given credit for time served.