BUCYRUS — Crawford County Common Pleas Court entertained a different kind of justice Wednesday in the case of Christopher French.
French, 33, of Bucyrus was originally charged in June with aggravated burglary, a second-degree felony. French, who is intellectually disabled, was upset because his sister was given the opportunity to ride in a fire truck.
French wanted to take a ride in a police car and decided if he got himself into trouble, he’d get that ride. French took a butter knife and unlawfully entered a residence near his neighborhood. He brandished the knife about. The home owners who knew French remained calm and contacted police. As a result of that incident French was taken into custody. He faced 11 years in prison.
French’s court-appointed attorney, Grant Garverick, asked the court for a competency evaluation. It was then determined by Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold that French was incompetent to stand trial. He decided to place French in institutional confinement at Scioto Trails in Chillicothe.
During the interim between his arrest and placement at Scioto Trails, French was housed at the Crawford County Justice Center. Corrections officers at the jail looked after “Frenchie” as they nicknamed him. They tried to keep him busy with coloring books and gave him junior deputy badges because he had a fascination with badges. They treated him kindly and eventually transported him to the facility in Chillicothe.
French landed back in Crawford County after Scioto Trails released him without notifying the court and getting Leuthold’s approval. Leuthold issued a warrant for French so that he could be safely housed until new arrangements could be made. Upon his return to the jail, French was given more coloring books and one corrections officer bought him a toy fire truck.
A hearing was held Wednesday to order his transfer to a new facility in Toledo. Leuthold commended the officers that had been taking care of French.
“Corrections officers went above and beyond in dealing with Mr. French,” Leuthold said. “We are here today to take the next step and find French a new home.”
Leuthold noted that French tends to get into mischief but that he does not realize the consequences or seriousness of his actions, that his time at Scioto Trails had helped him and that the new facility would treat him the same way.
Leuthold acknowledged that French had gotten into an altercation at the facility where police were involved, and a judge said he could not return.
“I’m not going to fault the police or the judge in this case, but it would have been much better to involve this court from the beginning,” Leuthold said. “Mr. French will be a part of my court for the next 11 years and we will keep account of him and make sure he gets the care he needs.”
Leuthold think that French was not malicious.
“Had Mr. French walked into a house in a neighborhood where they did not know him brandishing a knife, he could have been shot,” Leuthold said. “Many Crawford County residents are armed and if you see an intruder in your home, you have a right to protect yourself and your family.”
In a statement to the court, Garverick said that his client had been in town for some days before being arrested, had been living with his mother and had no interaction with police.
“We would ask for a less restrictive placement,” Garverick said.
Leuthold told Garverick he appreciated his stance but that French needed supervision and treatment.
“Mr. French tends to get into mischief around here, so I am going to send him to the Toledo facility.” Leuthold said. “He needs a place where he will be fed and cared for with a chance to blossom.”
Leuthold told French that he wanted him to promise that he would not fight anyone at the new facility and that he would give it a chance. French said he would behave.
Leuthold said that French is in his jurisdiction for and the court will follow him. French seemed to be satisfied with the outcome. Corrections officers will transport French on Thursday to Toledo.