By Kathy Laird
CCN Correspondent

BUCYRUS — Tyler Swartz, 21, of Bucyrus was sentenced to eight years in prison by Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold on Wednesday. Swartz was represented in court by attorney Andy Motter, and pleaded guilty to two charges.

The charges included possession of drugs, a second-degree felony, and improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle, punishable by as many as 18 months in prison.

Swartz was involved in a traffic stop which resulted in the search of his vehicle. Officers found a firearm and a safe containing a large amount of methamphetamine, resulting in the second-degree felony charge.

As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to an eight-year sentence for the drug charge and that the 18-month sentence on the firearm charge would be served concurrently, leaving Swartz with a total sentence of eight years.

Leuthold asked Swartz why he had so much meth in his car and if he was selling the it. Swartz indicated that he only was using the meth himself and that he was using between 3-7 grams of meth per day. Leuthold did not seem to believe Swartz’s story.

“We have dealt with heroin and fentanyl in Crawford County,” Leuthold said. “Meth has made a comeback because Mexican cartels are pouring cheap meth all over the country, including Crawford County.”

Noting that he does not intend to let meth get a hook in Crawford County, Leuthold warned Swartz and all others interested in using or selling meth in Crawford County.

“I hope this sentence sends a message,” Leuthold said. “Crawford County is the wrong place to be involved in heroin, fentanyl and meth.”

Swartz will receive credit for jail time served and will forfeit all drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department.

Zachary Wilcox of Galion was revoked from his place in the prosecutor’s intervention program.

In other court proceedings, Zachary Wilcox, 20, of Galion was revoked out of the prosecutor’s intervention in lieu of conviction program and sentenced to 60 days in the Crawford County Jail.

Wilcox tested positive for the presence of synthetic cannabinoids. He also was placed on five years of community control. If he violates the terms and conditions of community control, he faces 12 months in prison.

Mandy Petty (right) of Mansfield was placed into the prosecutor’s intervention program.

Mandy Petty, 36, of Mansfield was placed on the prosecutor’s intervention program after she pleaded guilty to possession of drugs. She will enter a treatment program focusing on drug and alcohol addiction and serve five years on community control.

Leuthold warned Petty, “This is a good opportunity for you to get the treatment you need. Don’t mess it up.”

Dustin Potter, 29, of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to answer to a probation violation and to receive new charges. Potter was on probation for a 2015 charge for possession of drugs.

Dustin Potter (right) was charged in Crawford County Common Pleas after overdosing while driving his vehicle.

According to the new charges outlined by probation officer Mark Alspach, Potter was cited for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs and reckless endangerment of a child.

According to Alspach, on April 28, Potter was found in possession of illegal drugs and on April 29, he tested positive for oxycodone without a prescription.

Reports indicate that Potter passed out while driving his car. His two-year-old daughter was in the back seat of the vehicle. Potter put the car in the ditch and emergency personnel had to administer three shots of Narcan at the scene to revive him.

According to Alspach, Potter’s daughter was not injured, but did witness the administration of life-saving shots. Leuthold set bond on the 2015 case at $75,000 and an additional $100,000 on the new charge. Attorney Brian Gernert was appointed to represent Potter.

Chrstopher Elam (right) pleaded guilty to domestic violence after disciplining his girlfriend’s child.

Christopher Elam, 30, of Galion will spend the next five years on community control after pleading guilty to domestic violence. He was also ordered to attend anger management counseling.

Elam admitted to improperly disciplining his girlfriend’s child. The child has since been placed in the custody of the grandmother per a plan with children’s services.

Leuthold seemed concerned to learn that Elam is still in a relationship with the child’s mother.

“I hear the term ‘anger management’ brandied about and I have nothing against anger management,” Leuthold said. “The public becomes furious at the idea of it. But let me tell you, Mr. Elam, I’m not going to tolerate any nonsense from you. You are to have no contact with this victim. If you screw this up or I find out you’ve had any contact at all with the victim, then I’m going to apply my own kind of anger management and put you in prison.”