By Kathy Laird
CCN Correspondent
BUCYRUS — James Netters, 36, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a firearm in an establishment where liquor is sold and carrying a concealed weapon. Netters was shown on video at the Crazy Fox Saloon with the gun in the bar area.
Carlos Crawford was retained to represent Netters. Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold accepted the guilty plea after conferring with Crawford. Netters was arraigned on the charges Monday.
“Normally things do not move this fast in my court; there are motions and pre-trials and the process plays out,” Leuthold said. “However, in this case, Mr. Crawford has assured me that this is what his client wishes.”
Leuthold then asked Netters if he understood that he did not have to plead at this time and Netters confirmed that he did wish to plead to the charges.
Noting that Crawford had convinced the state and judge that this was a “bad mistake,” Leuthold ordered a pre-sentence investigation which will take two to five weeks to complete.
The judge noted that the sentence could change based on the report; but as it stands, Netters will spend the next 36 months in prison and forfeit the firearm to the Bucyrus Police Department.
In another rare move for the court, Leuthold granted Netters bond so he could take care of pressing personal matters while the pre-sentence investigation is completed.
“The court does not often do this, but your attorney Mr. Crawford has moved heaven and earth to get this done for you,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold also placed Netters on a curfew. He is allowed to work and be outside his home from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. He also was banned from any bars and ordered to have no contact with the persons involved in the case.
Leuthold warned Netters to keep up his end of the agreement.
“The only person who can ruin this for you, is you,” Leuthold said.
In another court proceeding, Shannon Ward, 23, of Upper Sandusky will spend the next year in prison after violating the terms and conditions of her participation in the prosecutor’s intervention In lieu of conviction program.
Ward had contact with a known felon, Chris Palmer, without the court’s permission. It was noted for the record that Palmer had overdosed on heroin.
“I give you a chance to put this possession behind you, order you to have no contact with a felon and here you are with Mr. Palmer,” Leuthold said.
He ordered Ward to sit up straight and watch her attitude in court.
“You’re sitting in front of the guy who’s going to sentence you; you might want to have a little more respect.”
Noting that her association with Palmer could only result in her possible overdose and death, Leuthold gave her a reality check.
“You’re hanging with a guy who could get your killed…killed! I want you to live. You’re 23 but at this rate you won’t see 25 or even, maybe, 24,” Leuthold said. “You’ll have no chance to grow up, to see the world, to have a family; instead you’ll be in the ground rotting because you hung with this guy.”
Leuthold told the court that he wanted a plan in place to keep her clean and alive when she is released from prison.
Leuthold told a crying Ward, “I’m not going to let you die, no matter how hard you try.”