By Kathy Laird

Fred Cowgill, 43, of Bucyrus appeared to go to great lengths to avoid sentencing starting on Monday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. Cowgill was scheduled to appear at 10 a.m. Monday before Judge Sean Leuthold to answer for community control violations.

Fred Cowgill, 43, of Bucyrus listens to the court proceedings before being sent to prison.

When Cowgill called and said he was in another town trying to get a ride, Leuthold ordered an arrest warrant for failure to appear in court. After learning of the warrant, Cowgill arrived in court at approximately 2 p.m. Probation Officer Eric Bohach tried to administer a drug test to Cowgill, which he refused. At that point, the court’s plan was to return Cowgill’s to the Crawford County Justice Center to be held until a hearing could be scheduled for today.

Cowgill then began expressing to staff and deputies that he was experiencing chest pains before the court could carry out its proceedings. He told court personnel he felt he was having a heart attack. Expressions of personnel in attendance made it to appear they did not believe the claim to be authentic.

Leuthold ordered the emergency squad to come and transport Cowgill to the hospital for further examination. Leuthold also ordered, that when cleared, Cowgill be returned to jail without bond.

Cowgill left the courthouse by squad at approximately 3 p.m. and was back in custody at the jail by approximately 5 p.m.

Cowgill appeared today in front of Leuthold to answer for the probation violation charges.

According to Bohach, on Dec. 5, Cowgill tested positive by urinalysis for cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Cowgill then admitted that he had taken the substances.

Leuthold sentenced Cowgill to eight months in prison on each count for a total of 16 months in prison for violating the terms of his community control. Cowgill will receive credit for jail time served. He was scheduled to be transported to prison today.

Ian Dudley (right), 29, of Bucyrus listens to his prison sentence being reimposed with his attorney Adam Stone.

In other court matters, Ian Dudley, 29, of Bucyrus will await his upcoming jury trial in prison. Leuthold re-imposed the remaining 12-month prison sentence on Dudley after he admitted to violating the terms of his community control.

According to Bohach, Dudley was found unresponsive after an overdose Sept. 23. The Narcan shot was administered to Dudley.

Dudley has opted for a jury trial on new charges of possession of drugs. He will remain in prison until his trial starts at a later date.