By Kathy Laird

After recently declining a plea deal offered by the State of Ohio, Mikel Knetter, 21, of Crestline appeared before Judge Sean Leuthold in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday to change his plea.

Knetter was charged with 16 counts by the Crawford County Grand Jury. According to the plea agreement, Knetter will serve five years for count one, and 36 months for counts 2-15 will be served concurrently for a total of eight years in prison. He was ordered to pay restitution to his victims with the amount to be determined.

Knetter’s attorney Tom Nicholson said, “We would ask your honor to accept this plea. Mr. Knetter has had a very troubled life and now has a pregnant girlfriend.”

Before imposing the sentence on Knetter, Leuthold referred to the fact that he had recently served time in prison stemming from 2016 and currently was on post release control.

“Look, you’re too young to spend this kind of time in prison,” Leuthold said. “I don’t tolerate burglary in this county. People have a right to feel safe in their homes.”

In other court proceedings, Emily King, 39, of Bucyrus was sentenced to the maximum term in prison for drug possession, a fifth-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

Leuthold noted that the maximum sentence was imposed with the idea of a possible early release from prison and for King to enter Leuthold’s ISAT (Intensive Supervision and Treatment) Program.

“I do not tolerate this behavior in Crawford County,” Leuthold said. “We are going to track you closely. If you mess this up you will go back to prison.”

Leuthold went on to encourage King that she could rebuild her life and her relationships with her children.

“It’s a fight you’re in and this is your best last chance. You’ll Win or you’ll go back to prison,” Leuthold said.

Ross Craner, 26, of Bucyrus, was given a 90-day jail sentence for violating his community control. Kraner tested positive for drugs after he overdosed and had to be administered the Narcan shot.

Craner told the court how he overdosed and was adamant that it was true.

Craner said he overdosed by snorting suboxone that was prescribed to him.

“I don’t know if you’re and idiot or a liar,” Leuthold said. “You don’t pass out and need a shot with suboxone. So, I’ll ask you again, what do you think you snorted?”

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Crane replied. “I snorted suboxone out of a bottle prescribed to me. Maybe I had a reaction to it because I hadn’t done it in so long.”

Leuthold replied, “You just answered my question, you’re a liar. I don’t believe a word you say and someday when you violate down the road I won’t believe you either.”