By Kathy Laird
CCN Correspondent
BUCYRUS — Chandler Lust, 18, of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to plead guilty to two counts of illegal conveyance of drugs into a detention facility. Each of the third-degree felonies carried a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Lust appeared with attorney Pat Murphy to change his plea. In a deal negotiated between Murphy and the state, Lust received nine months in prison for each count, for a total of 18 months in prison.
In what Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold called a “global settlement,” charges pending in municipal court will be covered in the prison sentence. Leuthold told Lust if he receives judicial release in the future, and is assigned to a halfway house, he must follow all the rules as if he were still in prison.
“Although it is a step down from prison, if you walk away, you will face a serious charge of escape,” Leuthold said. “It’s treated just like a prison escape if you walk away from a halfway house.”
In other court proceedings, Gabriel Woods, 42, of Marion appeared with attorney Bob Cesner. Woods is charged with a third-degree felony of assisting suicide. He is accused of knowingly causing another person to attempt commiting suicide by providing the physical means by which the other person attempts or commits suicide.
A visibly distraught Woods appeared before Leuthold, who decided to continue his hearing pending a District Five Psychological evaluation.
Leuthold explained to Goods that he knew the facts and circumstances of the alleged crime.
“You are in grief. I need this evaluation to see what your psyche is like,” Leuthold said. “I don’t feel comfortable letting you go home. I’m concerned with your safety.”
He suggested that Woods try to relax pending the evaluation.
“I know it sounds hard, but try,” Leuthold said. “We have some of the best corrections officers in the state in my opinion, if you are respectful to them they will bend over backwards to help you.”
Leuthold ordered the evaluation be done as soon as possible and a hearing to be scheduled to discuss bond as soon as the evaluation is completed.
Christan Symsick, 36, of Galion nearly had her $75,000 bond revoked after she pleaded guilty to having contact with her codefendant, by speaking with him on the phone from the Crawford County Justice Center about their case.
A condition of bond was that she have no contact with her co-defendant.
According to Crawford County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler, several calls were recorded between the codefendants in which they discussed the upcoming case. Symsick’s attorney James Mayer III contended that his client did not understand the no contact order but has learned her lesson. He noted that she currently is working a recover program under the direction of Margie Maddox. Maddox reported that Symsick is complying with the rules of the program.
Symsick was drug tested before the hearing and her urine test came back clean.
Judge Sean Leuthold withdrew the arrest warrant the revocation of her bond. He gave her a very stern warning.
“Don’t try to outsmart me on this,” Leuthold said. “Don’t try all the usual tricks of using a third party and whatever else you come up with to talk. I will find out; all of these conversations are videoed. If you pull any shenanigans I will revoke your bond and you will sit in jail till this case is resolved.”
In other arraignments on Monday, Brandy Conley, 37, of Shelby faces six felony charges. She faces two counts of attempting to sell Fentanyl near a school, both third-degree felonies and punishable with as many as three years in prison each; a second-degree felony charge for engaging in a pattern of corrupt behavior, punishable by as many as eight years in prison and three fourth-degree felony charges, each carrying as many as one year in prison. Bond was set at $250,000 and Joel Spitzer was appointed to defend Conley.
Bond was set at $350,000 for Tyler Morris, 34, of Shelby. He is the codefendant of Conley. He faces two counts of attempting to sell Fentanyl near a school; each of those charges are third-degree felony charges, each punishable with as many as three years on prison. He also faces a second-degree felony of engaging in a pattern of corrupt behavior punishable by as many as eight years in prison. Attorney Tom Nicholson was appointed to represent Morris.
Another Shelby man and codefendant charged with a four-count indictment is 48-year-old Craig Potts. He is accused of two counts of trafficking in drugs near a school, both third-degree felony charges, each punishable with as many as three years in prison.
Potts is also charged with two fourth degree felonies for trafficking in drugs, each punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
A Crestline man made Leuthold’s prediction come true. Michael Osborne, 45, recently appeared before Leuthold at a hearing to answer to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
After failing a drug test, Osborne insisted that he went to an area emergency room for a back injury and was given a pain shot that contained fentanyl. Osborne was able to produce records from the hospital to prove they had indeed administered the shot.
Leuthold was visibly upset that a recovering addict was given fentanyl by an area hospital. He warned Osborne that he was in a dangerous position and would most likely relapse. Osborne was arraigned from the Crawford County Justice Center on Monday morning after he had overdosed in Richland County.
“Last time my hands were tied on this issue,” Leuthold said. “I’m just glad you are alive.”
Bond was set at $150,000. Grant Gaverick was reappointed to represent Osborne.