BUCYRUS — Bonds were set for several individuals appearing before Magistrate Tim Roston in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday.
James E. Blackburn, of Willard, appeared in court after he was arrested on a bench warrant. Blackburn, 41, failed to appear for a scheduled pre-trial, resulting in the warrant. Blackburn is charged with possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
Blackburn appeared in court with is attorney, Grant Garverick, who argued for bond for Blackburn. Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall asked the state to place a bond of $25,000.
Garverick explained to the court that his client failed to appear in Crawford County because he was in custody in Huron County.
“He did not intentionally miss court. He had no way to get here,” Garverick said.
Garverick said that since Blackburn’s release from Huron County, his client is on two forms of monitoring and under house arrest. Garverick further said his client had been given a personal recognizance bond at the onset of the case and had not missed any appointments or court appearances.
In consideration of the monitoring being done by Huron County, Garverick asked that the personal recognizance case be imposed again.
Roston granted the personal recognizance bond with a stern warning.
“If you screw this up, you’re going to jail. I’m going to give you a chance because you were in jail at the time you were supposed to appear,” Roston said.
In other court action, Kellie Redd, 32, of Bucyrus was charged with violating the terms and conditions of her community control. Redd was sentenced to 42 months in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs, both third-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 36 months in prison. Redd was later granted judicial release.
According to allegations, on November 20, Redd conveyed an illegal substance into a detention facility, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison. She is also accused of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
Crall advised the court that additional felony charges are pending related to the allegations that Redd violated the terms and conditions of her community control. Roston ordered the allegations set for a hearing. Bond was set at $100,000. Attorney John Andrew Motter was appointed to represent Redd.
Rena K. Sirk, 48, of Galion was charged with violating the terms and conditions of her community control. Sirk was placed on community control in June after she pleaded guilty to one count of identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
In July, she violated the terms and conditions of her community control and was sent to prison for 12 months. In October, she was granted judicial release and placed back on community control.
According to allegations, Sirk stopped reporting for office visits in November and is accused of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison. Due to possible new felony charges, Crall asked for and received a $50,000 bond for Sirk. Attorney Brad Starkey was appointed to represent her.