BUCYRUS — Chad Randall of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday to answer charges he violated the terms and conditions of his community control.
Randall, 47, was sentenced on what Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold called a “split sentence.” At the time of his crime in 2014, the Honorable Russell Wiseman was the Common Pleas Court Judge.
Randall was convicted on one count of assault, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison and one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison.
Wiseman sentenced Randall to 18 months in prison on the assault charge and five years of community control on the felonious assault charge. Wiseman limited the amount of time in prison that could be imposed if Randall violated community control to four years in prison.
According to probation officer Eric Bohach, Randall tested positive for meth, methamphetamines, and alcohol on May 2. Randall admitted to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
Before sentencing Randall, Leuthold explained the split sentence that Wiseman had imposed.
“I do not do split sentences in this court, but I am bound by the terms set by Judge Wiseman,” Leuthold said.
In the original charges against Randall, he admitted to assaulting a police officer with a spear.
“I take crimes against a police officer very seriously. We have a violent history, now he’s using meth,” Leuthold said. “He’s a ticking time bomb. In order to protect the public, I am imposing the most time I can in this case and that is four years in prison.”
In other court action, Michael Keeton, 41, of Portsmouth, found himself before Leuthold for violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Keeton was placed on five years community control in 2016 for one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
Probation officer Bohach said he had received a call from authorities in Scioto County to tell him Keeton had been arrested for possession of 39 grams of meth. He also tested positive for methamphetamines. He posted a $15,000 bond and was released. Keeton was also arrested in Ironton for domestic violence and posted a $10,000 bond.
“Are you kidding me? He got a $15,000 bond for being in possession of 39 grams of meth and tested positive for methamphetamines?” Leuthold asked “Well, I can’t control what they do down there, but I can control what we do.”
Leuthold appointed Grant Gaverick to represent Keeton. Bond was set at $100,000.
Tracie Eichenberger, 46, of Marion appeared on charges she violated the terms and conditions of her community control. She was placed on five years of community control in 2017 after pleading guilty to possession of drugs a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to 12 months in prison. According to allegations, Eichenberger tested positive for meth, benzodiazepines, and alcohol on May 3.
Leuthold entered a plea of not guilty for Eicenberger and appointed attorney Tani Eyer to represent her.
“You are mixing dangerous drugs together and quite frankly I’m worried for your safety. I’m setting bond at $50,000,” Leuthold said.
Theadore Miller, 36, of Bucyrus appeared to answer charges he violated the terms and conditions of his community control when he was arrested in a drug bust in Bucyrus last week. Miller was on community control for possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
Leuthold found probable cause to hold a hearing on the violation. He appointed attorney Tom Nicholson to represent Miller and set his bond at $75,000.
Jeanette Fast, 41, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. Leuthold sentenced Fast to 12 months in a community-based correctional facility. Leuthold noted that if there was not room for her in that program, the court would find another program for her.
“You have got to stay clean. I know you have been victimized by a lot of people but to destroy your life with drugs in not an option,” Leuthold said.
Matthew Clinard, 32, of Bucyrus had his bond revoked when he did not pass drug testing applied before court. He failed to show up for his original pre-trial.
Clinard is accused of trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 36 months in prison, one count of possession of drugs a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to twelve months in prison and three misdemeanor charges.
The probation department thought an error had been made and rescheduled the hearing for today. He was represented in court by his attorney, Brad Starkey. It is routine for the court to drug test before an appearance and Clinard tested positive for THC, alcohol and meth.
Starkey told the court that his client had posted bond and tested clean weekly.
“My client cannot explain the test,” Starkey said.
“I think I can explain the test. He consumed marijuana, alcohol and meth,” Leuthold said. “The probation department tested him two times with the same results.”
Leuthold revoked Clinard’s bond of $150,000 and ordered him held without bond until his next hearing on Thursday.
Marquis Allred, 34, of Mansfield appeared in court to ask for a new attorney. Allred is charged with having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison, improper handling of a firearm, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison, two counts of possession of drugs, each fifth-degree felonies punishable with up to 12 months in prison each and one count of drug paraphernalia a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Leuthold had appointed attorney Geoff Stoll to represent Allred. When asked why he wanted a new attorney, Allred told the court he wanted an attorney who would fight for him. Allred had turned down a plea worked out for him by Stoll and has decided to go to trial.
“I appoint your attorney and I pay for it so normally I don’t let defendants change attorneys,” Leuthold said. “However, when a defendant is facing more than five years in prison, I will allow one change of attorney because I want you to be comfortable with your lawyer. But understand this, I will not allow you to change attorneys again.”
Leuthold thanked Stoll for his work on the case and appointed Tom Nicholson to represent Allred in future proceedings.