By Kathy Laird
Shaynna Branham, 35, of Bucyrus appeared nearly two hours after her scheduled appearance in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. Branham was set to plead guilty to charges of identity theft at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Branham asked the court to continue her case, because she said she was suffering from the flu, but her attorney Brian Gernert advised her that the case would not be continued. She was ordered to appear by 3:30 p.m. and arrived at 3:26pm.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold ordered a urinalysis drug test, which came back positive for THC and cocaine. Upon learning of the results of the drug test, Leuthold ordered Branham’s bond be revoked and she be taken into custody.
Because she tested positive on the drug screen and lost her bond, Branham now faces time in prison if convicted on the identity fraud charge.
Kaleb Hicks, 22, of New Washington was sentenced to 36 months in prison in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Hicks appeared for a community control violation and had a prison sentence imposed.
According to Probation Officer Dan Wurm, Hicks violated several conditions of his probation outside of Crawford County. The violations included giving false information about his contact with police officers, being located at a Walmart where he previously had been banned, possessing stolen property worth approximately $15,000, several credit cards and checks belonging to a deceased person and bolt cutters he used to break locks. Hicks also had contact with a known felon.
Before sentencing, Leuthold asked Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler for his thoughts on the sentence.
“Mr. Hicks’ conduct while on community control, and the thefts he has been involved with have made the state seek this agreed sentence where he will serve the 36 months,” Hoovler said.
Hicks’ attorney Sebastion Berger replied, that prior to Hicks’ arrest, Hicks was working a full-time job, reported to his probation officer almost every time and paid $2,000 toward his restitution.
Leuthold asked Hicks if he had anything to say.
“I would ask you to believe in me,” Hicks replied.
Leuthold looked directly at Hicks and said, “Well, I don’t.”
After reading a long list of crimes and noting that Hicks had just pleaded guilty to violating his community control Leuthold said, “You like to steal stuff. You were working and you were still stealing. At some point this has to come to an end. It doesn’t work this way in Crawford County and it won’t happen in Crawford County as long as I’m here.”
Leuthold told Hicks that he does not tolerate stealing from people especially while on probation and that victimizing others will not be tolerated.
“It calls for swift justice and that’s what I’m administering today. Get your act together or I will bury you in prison,” Leuthold said.