By Kathy Laird
CCN correspondent
BUCYRUS — Mason J. Olmstead, 22, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to burglary in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday.
According to the indictment, Olmstead entered a residence at 310 E. Mansfield St. in Bucyrus to commit the offense. Burglary is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to eight years in prison. In a plea deal, Olmstead will spend the next four years in prison. Olmstead was ordered to pay court costs and will receive credit for jail time served. Olmstead was represented by attorney Joel Spitzer.
Travis Joan, 25, of Galion appeared before Judge Sean Leuthold for sentencing. Joan pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to provide for a functionally disabled person. Joan was represented by Columbus attorney Brent Nesbitt.
According to the charges, Joan failed to provide adequate care for his parents. The couple were wheelchair bound and discovered by authorities in were deplorable conditions. They were confined to their wheelchairs for a significant time, resulting in wounds and disease.
Upon reading the pre-sentence investigation report, Leuthold noted several mitigating factors.
“On first impression, I could see that the community would be outraged that this occurred,” Leuthold said. “However, upon investigating, the court learned this is the environment Joan grew up within.”
Leuthold related some of those findings. The pre-sentence investigation revealed that there was a history of mental illness with both parents. Leuthold remarked that under normal circumstances, a case like this would involve a lengthy prison sentence.
Nesbitt told the court that Joan’s employers retained him because they knew there were extenuating circumstances. Nesbitt further told the court that Joan had been home-schooled. He thanked the court for working out a plea deal. “He is employed by people who care about him. They have been pseudo God parents to him.” Nesbitt said.
Before pronouncing sentence, Leuthold said the victims are fine now. They reside in a nursing facility in Columbus where they can get the skilled care they need.
“If there is a silver lining in all of this; it is that your parents are now getting the care they need, care I’m not sure anyone else would be able to provide.” Leuthold said.
Joan will spend the next six months in county jail. Leuthold told Joan to apply for the work release program. Following the six months in jail, Joan will remain on five years of community control. Joan is to report to the Crawford County Justice Center on August 6 at 7:30 p.m.
“Behave yourself out there. I hope that someday you will be able to see your parents again,” Leuthold said. “Bad situations like this can end up working out for the good.”
Sarah O’Hare, 36, of Nevada pleaded guilty to a charge of theft. She was placed in the Prosecutor’s Diversion Program. O’Hare was ordered to pay her victim $10,064.67 to her victim, $600 in fees to the program and court costs.