BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Carolyn Shireman, a resident of Bucyrus and former city council member, made her initial appearance in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Friday morning after being indicted by a grand jury. Shireman was arrested on Wednesday and has been held at the Wyandot County Jail pending her arraignment.

Visiting Judge Howard Hall from Morrow County presided over the case. Shireman, who has submitted her resignation from the Bucyrus City Council, awaits formal acceptance of her resignation by the council, which is scheduled to meet next Tuesday.

Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall represented the state in court, while Bucyrus attorney Andrew Motter appeared on behalf of Shireman. Motter informed the court that he had filed a notice to change his status from retained to appointed counsel as the case progresses.

Crall stated that Shireman faces a second-degree felony charge of theft against a person of a protected class. He requested a $50,000 bond, emphasizing that Shireman has a prior conviction from 2003 and is currently charged with a first-degree misdemeanor of intimidation. This charge reportedly stems from Shireman’s alleged attempt to influence the victim shortly after her police interview, as well as her inquiries into whether she was being investigated by the Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Crall also expressed concerns that Shireman’s social media comments might taint the jury pool, requesting that she be restricted from posting online and having contact with the victim if she is released on bond.

Crall told the court that evidence shows Shireman cashed in a life insurance policy and a retirement account, purchased women’s clothing, and provided dog grooming for five dogs when the alleged victim only has one dog. Crall said there were alleged donations made to Shireman’s charity. He told the court that there have been changes to the victim’s will, including home ownership, making Shireman the beneficiary.

Motter countered that his client, aged 71 and on Social Security, poses no flight risk. He noted that Shireman had been compliant with bond conditions after she was initially charged, including wearing a GPS monitor, during her nearly month-long wait for indictment. Motter argued that the jail system is ill-equipped to house an elderly inmate and emphasized that the only concern raised by the state was Shireman’s tendency to communicate with others: “She likes to open her mouth and talk to people. If the court is concerned about that, she could be directed to keep her mouth shut. If you quash her talking, then you need to silence the state as well because the state is also contaminating the jury pool,” Motter said.

In response to the allegations, Motter highlighted that while the victim is developmentally disabled, he has never been classified as such by the Social Security Administration and has maintained a work history. He noted that Shireman and her husband provided financial support to the victim during difficult times, emphasizing the need for a thorough review of financial records to ascertain the nature of the funds in question. Motter told the court that a power of attorney was in effect. Motter told the court that according to his records, he can prove that Shireman and her husband have provided $3

5,000 in support to the victim out of their own funds. Shireman is on Social Security and her husband works a job. They live in a rented home.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Hall set Shireman’s bond at $25,000 with a 10% option and a personal recognizance bond to ensure her appearance at all court dates. Failure to appear could result in an additional fourth-degree felony charge. Standard bond conditions include no contact with the victim, remaining in Ohio, submitting to random drug and alcohol testing, and weekly reporting to a probation officer starting March 3.

The first pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Crawford County Courthouse. All parties involved agreed to extend the civil protection order indefinitely, and Motter indicated plans to file a motion for the release of property seized during the initial investigation.

Crawford County Now will continue to follow this developing story.

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