By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Over 10 grams of heroin found in a children’s toy box and among toys and books led to a maximum prison sentence for a Bucyrus man Tuesday afternoon.
Thirty-five-year-old Samuel Shepherd pleaded guilty to second-degree drug possession in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. He received the maximum sentence of eight years in prison along with a $7,500 fine. Shepherd will have to forfeit $1,070 in cash that was seized during the search warrant, which will be split between the Bucyrus Police Department and the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office. He would be subject to a mandatory post-release control of three years after his time has been served.
The balance of Shepherd’s case, which included drug trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia, was dismissed in exchange for Shepherd’s maximum sentence.
Judge Sean Leuthold noted that he may consider judicial release after Shepherd served five years, though that will be dependent on the defendant’s behavior while incarcerated.
“He’s here to take his medicine,” defense attorney Adam Stone said of his client.
Assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler noted that after a search warrant was issued at Shepherd’s home, over 10 grams – closer to 16, Hoovler said – were found in a toy box and other children’s toys and books.
“I don’t know how far a person has to fall to where they’re hiding heroin in a children’s toy box and children’s books,” commented Leuthold. “That is a recipe for disaster that I can’t even contemplate.”
The judge added that he could not imagine the number of years Shepherd would have spent in prison if a child died from ingesting the easily accessible drugs.
“I’ve said it once, I’ll keep saying it until you guys figure it out: this is the wrong county to be dealing drugs,” Leuthold warned Shepherd before adding that he would continue handing down stiff sentences as long as people kept committing drug crimes.
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Thirty-one-year-old Jennifer McCabe was given a personal recognizance bond after her appearance in Common Pleas Court for a probation violation.
McCabe, who is currently on community control for a drug possession charge, allegedly was convicted of intoxication in Mansfield Municipal Court on Nov. 28.
“If you did do this, what are you thinking? This isn’t how we do this in Crawford County,” Leuthold told the Morrow County woman. “In the meantime, you have to clean your act up. If I have to make it clear to you again, you might end up in prison.”