By Kathy Laird
A Bucyrus man’s actions caused by his drinking landed him, a sobering, 24 months in prison Monday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Robert Young, Jr., 49, of Bucyrus admitted to violating the terms of his community control. In lieu of a plea agreement, Young opted to have his attorney Sebastion Berger argue his sentence before Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold.
According to probation officer Dan Wurm, Young violated his probation Jan. 17 when he operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Young was involved in four separate accidents on State Route 100 where he hit a road sign, an electrical pole, a plastic utility marker and a farm truck with a snow plow. A bottle of Southern Comfort whiskey was found in the vehicle. Young’s blood alcohol level was .0294.
Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler argued for the full 24 months in prison based on the underlying felony committed by Young. Young originally was charged with having weapons while under disability, inducing panic and aggravated menacing after he locked himself in a bedroom with weapons while making threats.
Instead of receiving 36 months in prison, the prosecution offered 24 months with the condition that Young completes his community control successfully.
“The court asked him to abide by the rules of community control, basically not to drink and not to pick up another charge, he did just the opposite,” Hoovler said.
Berger pointed out to the court that Young was not denying that he failed community control and asked the court to put his client in a community based correctional facility either now or at some point in the future.
“Your honor, my client knows well that he could be facing a full 24 months in prison today,” Berger said. “But he wants you to know that he would like the opportunity to be in a community based correctional facility.”
When asked if he had anything to say, Young declined any comment. Before sentencing, Leuthold told Young he wasn’t very impressed with his attitude.
“You know Mr. Young, if you want to sit at home by yourself and drink yourself to death then I’m inclined to let you,” Leuthold said. “But when you put innocent people in jeopardy with no regard to the consequences of your behavior; that’s where I step in.”
Noting that State Route 100 is a very busy road, Leuthold said Young put many of people in danger.
“We weren’t bothering you, but you are bothering us and it stops now,” Leuthold said.
He sentenced Young to the full 24-month prison sentence as requested by the prosecution, but said he would consider a motion to move Young to a community based correctional facility after no less than nine months in prison.
In other court business, Charlotte Wolfe, 47, of Crestline was cut a break when she was sentenced for felony intimidation in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Wolfe was facing 36 months in prison for intimidating the mother of a victim of case in Crawford County Common Pleas. According to the charges, Wolfe used Facebook to threaten the mother of an alleged victim of sexual abuse.
Wolfe told the mother of the young victim, “If my nephew goes to prison you will pay.”
In a strong stance with the defendant Judge Sean Leuthold said, “Your behavior is ridiculous and unacceptable. We do not allow alleged victims to be harassed or intimidated or treated badly by anyone. You damn near got yourself sent to prison.”
Leuthold went on to tell Wolfe that the handling of criminal cases is not her job but the job of the courts.
“I am here to make sure everything is done correctly and fairly for all parties involved,” Leuthold said. “You don’t need to stick your two cents in; especially in cases of alleged sexual abuse.”
Leuthold sentenced Wolfe to 180 days in jail with 111 suspended and asked her if he was going to have any trouble from her.
She replied, “No sir, I promise.”
Leuthold ordered her to two years of probation under the supervision of Eric Bohach. Leuthold told Bohach to check her Facebook and social media accounts.
“If she discusses this case before, during, or after its conclusion, I want her taken into custody and her Probation revoked,” Leuthold said.