BUCYRUS — It was a busy Wednesday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court as several defendants were sentenced.
Shannon Shope, 34, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to 12 months in prison, which placed her on five years of community control. On February 25, 2019, Shope tested positive for fentanyl, meth and meth amphetamines.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Shope to the full 12 months in prison. He did not rule out the possibility of a future judicial release.
Wesley Purdue, 20, of Bucyrus was placed on the prosecutor’s diversion program after he pleaded guilty to one charge of theft, a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to 12 months in prison.
In addition to paying fees for the two-year program, Purdue must pay $2200 in restitution to his victim.
“The stunt you pulled was pure foolishness,” Leuthold said. “Don’t mess this up and make me put you in prison.”
Jolena Dunn, 22, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of her community control.
Dunn was placed into Judge Leuthold’s ISAT (intensive supervision and treatment) program. She was drug tested at the first meeting, which turned up positive for fentanyl. She was given a second chance but tested positive for fentanyl again in January before her next scheduled ISAT meeting.
Leuthold sentenced Dunn to nine months in prison but told her that he would not oppose transitional control.
Sarah Thornton, 27, of Bucyrus admitted to violating the terms and conditions of her community control.
Thornton confirmed that she tested positive for oxycodone and Percocet and that she had association with known felons.
Thornton was placed on community control after she was granted a judicial release in February. She successfully completed a treatment program through a community-based correctional facility.
In arguing sentence for Thornton, assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that Thornton had received more than one chance to abide by the conditions of her community control.
“She completed a community-based correctional facility treatment program and then tested positive again for drugs,” Hoovler said. “There is nothing left to do but reimpose the prison sentence.”
Thornton’s attorney, Brad Starkey, told the court that Thornton was taking her sobriety seriously.
“These cases are a work-in-progress,” Starkey said, “I wish there was a switch we could turn where they come out of CBCF with no more issues.”
Starkey told the court that Thornton needed a place to stay and her association with the felons had nothing to do with availing herself of drugs. He told the court that Thornton had a promise of employment when weather breaks long before she violated the conditions of her community control.
Starkey said his client was ready to face her sentence but asked the court to consider drug court as an alternative. Thornton herself told the court that she takes her sobriety seriously.
“I associated with one of the felons out of loneliness,” Thornton said. “I finally got to see my child and I had a job lined up.”
Hoovler reminded the court that Thornton, who participated in the ISAT program, tried to provide fake urine for testing which resulted in a new charge of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 36 months in prison.
Leuthold said this was a difficult case.
“The court wanted to help. ISAT did not work. You brought someone else’s urine in here,” Leuthold said. “You got out of a community-based correctional facility program and immediately tested positive for opiates. And now, you’re spending time with two felons. She is sincere when she is in front of me, but it disappears as soon as she’s out of my sight.”
Noting he wanted to make sure the punishment fit the crime, Leuthold terminated Thornton’s probation as unsuccessful on the possession of drugs charge and re-imposed 30 months in prison on the tampering with evidence charge.
With jail time credit and credit for all treatment programs, Thornton will have about two years to serve in prison.
Christopher Meadows, 26, of Belpre, Ohio pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
Meadows originally pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to 12 months in prison. Meadows also entered a guilty plea to two misdemeanor charges.
Meadows admitted to failing to report his address to the probations department and failing to keep office visit appointments as scheduled by his probation officer.
Leuthold sentenced Meadows to a flat seven months in prison.
Cody Walters, 22, of Bucyrus had his community control continued. Walters had faced a possible violation of his community control after he was charged with domestic violence in Crawford County Municipal Court. However, those charges were dismissed.
Leuthold told Walters that the state could have pushed the community control violation even though the charges were dropped.
“I could send you back to prison, but I am going to agree with the state’s position on this,” Leuthold said.
Walters’s victim was in the courtroom and Leuthold addressed her.
“For the love of God protect yourself,” Leuthold said.
Leuthold told Walters he was to have no contact with the victim.
“I know you have children together but for now no contact,” Leuthold said. “Don’t you put your hands on her or on any other woman or guess who’s going to prison? This court will not tolerate violence against women.”
Leuthold said he would review the no contact order in 30 days.
“If I catch you around her or sneaking around to see her, I will send you to prison,” Leuthold said.
James Disbennett, 35, of Galion will spend the next 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 36 months in prison.
Disbennett threw fentanyl out of his car when he was pursued in a traffic stop. He later called someone to tell them where the fentanyl was located so that it could be retrieved, preventing someone finding it and not knowing how dangerous it was.
While Leuthold gave Disbennett credit for doing the right thing by trying to get it removed from where he threw it out of the car, he said he could not ignore the seriousness of what he had done.
“I’m giving you a small break for what effort you did make but I’m still sentencing you to 18 months in prison,” Leuthold said.
Disbennett will receive 37 days of jail credit and must forfeit all drug related property to the Galion Police Department.
Bucky Cagle, 36, of Galion pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree punishable by up to 12 months in prison.
Cagle was placed on five years of community control. He must complete drug assessment and treatment. He was ordered to forfeit all drug related property to the Galion Police Department.
Cheyanne Lenhart, 27, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
Lenhart was sentenced to five years of community control and she must forfeit all related property to the Galion Police Department.
Dylan Lackey, 29, of Galion was removed from the prosecutor’s diversion program. According to assistant prosecutor Hoovler said that Lackey had not done anything required in the program. He noted that Lackey made restitution to the victim in his forgery case before being placed on diversion. Hoovler asked the court to add the $600 diversion fee to Lackey’s court costs.
Leuthold granted Hoovler’s request and placed Lackey on five years of community control. Leuthold warned Lackey to take the opportunity seriously,
“No booze, no new crimes. Get these costs and fees paid,” Leuthold said. “If you don’t make it, you are facing prison.”