By Krystal Smalley and Gary Ogle
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com; gogle@wbcowqel.com
Thirty-five-year-old Melinda Monroe of Galion had been granted a small reprieve before she had to face the consequences of her actions. But she fell out of the court’s good graces Wednesday.
Monroe, whose community control violation case was continued in August until after her baby was born, was scheduled to appear in Common Pleas Court for a disposition hearing Wednesday. Monroe gave birth on Sept 9 and, due to some complications, was not released from Akron Children’s Hospital’s neonatal unit until Oct. 3.
Monroe’s attorney Brian Gernert stated that Monroe was scheduled for a post-partum follow-up with her doctor on Oct. 27. He asked for a continuance because of her ongoing problems.
Assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler countered that Monroe is currently looking at prison time from Crawford and Wyandot counties. He added that she could receive that same care while in prison.
Adult Parole Authority officer Mark Stalter informed Judge Russell Wiseman that he had spoken to Monroe the day prior to her hearing about the disposition. According to Stalter, Monroe said she would be at the hearing.
“She just took it upon herself not to appear like she did in Common Pleas Court in Wyandot County,” Wiseman said. “That’s not the way we do things here.”
Wiseman issued a bench warrant for Monroe.
Monroe had pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs in 2011 and was sentenced to two consecutive 12-month prison terms. She was granted judicial release in April of 2012. Monroe returned to court in August of this year for community control violations, which included testing positive for THC, attempting to alter her urine, and trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances.
Cash or credit makes no difference, theft is theft according to the law and one man is paying with a 12-month prison sentence.
Joshua Rowlinson pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felony theft in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Rowlinson, who was already on community control for another offense, admitted in court that he had fraudently used another person’s credit card. Rowlinson has already paid full restitution to the victim.
Although the plea arrangement with the County Prosecutor and the Adult Parole Authority allows that Rowlinson will not be charged with violating probation, his community control will be tolled while in prison, meaning that time in prison does not count towards the completion of his original time on community control. That will resume once he is released.
Wednesday morning’s Common Pleas Court docket was dominated by charges of community control violations and one man decided to speed the process up.
Ken Lowe admitted that last month he was intoxicated and out of control. Lowe told the court he was under stress and upset regarding the death of a family member and other family-related problems. During that time Lowe allegedly got into an altercation with a Galion police officer.
Charges of assaulting the police officer will go before a grand jury seeking an indictment.
Judge Russell Wiseman ordered that Lowe continue to be held and an evaluation be done by Community Counseling Services prior to any disposition in the case.
In unrelated cases Ricky Jordan Jr. and Cindy Mabe also appeared on charges of violating community control. Both had attorneys appointed and bond was set for each at $50,000.
Joseph McDaniel II was arraigned Wednesday on a fifth-degree felony charge of breaking and entering.
McDaniel had just been released from prison stemming from a conviction on an unrelated charge when he was indicted and arrested on the latest charge which is alleged to have happened prior to McDaniel going to prison.
While the new charge carries the potential of another prison sentence of up to 12 months, McDaniel was released on a personal recognizance bond on the condition he live with a family member.