By Kathy Laird
After several months on the run, a Bucyrus woman did her best to convince Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold to give her yet another chance for community control.
Jayme Fawley, 33, of Bucyrus was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Tuesday.
According to Probation Officer Dan Wurm, Fawley changed her address without reporting it to the court, failed to the report to the probation department and used cocaine.
Fawley originally was charged with burglary in 2014 at which time she was sentenced to what was then known as drug court. With the election of Leuthold to the bench she was then admitted into the ISAT program that he created to give addicts an opportunity to work and live in the community.
Leuthold himself closely monitors the Intensive Supervision and Treatment Program. Fawley graduated from the ISAT program. She then began to use drugs again and violated her community control. Rather than report herself, Fawley went on the run. A warrant was issued for her arrest in May of this year after having not reported since February.
According to Wurm, the probation department did an intensive investigation to locate her, but she moved from the address on record and her family and friends did not have information on her whereabouts.
Through her attorney, Joel Spitzer, Fawley agreed to plead guilty to the charges and the prosecution and defense were able to present arguments on possible sentences to Leuthold before he made a decision on her case.
It was Fawley’s hope to receive a third opportunity at community control but Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler had a very different argument to make to the court.
“Your honor, we have given her every opportunity to abide by the rules of her community control. In fact she’s had two chances at that which is more than most people get,” Hoovler said. “She was unwilling to do the simplest thing, and that’s to show up for her appointments. We can’t supervise felons who won’t show up.”
Noting her drug use and evasion of law enforcement, Hoovler asked for the maximum sentence of 47 months in prison.
When Leuthold asked Spitzer for his sentencing argument, Spitzer stood and told the judge that his client did admit to the allegations and seeks mercy from the court. He then said she felt she was best suited to make her own plea for mercy.
Granting the request, Leuthold allowed Fawley to address him regarding her potential sentence. With a shaky voice and scattered excuses as to why she was out of contact, she pleaded her case to the court.
“I had three deaths in my family and went on a two week binge. I lived in my vehicle and struggled, but I know I can get through this,” Fawley said.
She noted she had learned a lot and had reached out for help from Mary Haven, but was told her counselor was no longer employed there.
When Leuthold asked her why she did not contact the probation department, Fawley admitted she never tried to contact Officer Wurm.
“You never planned to turn yourself in, did you Miss Fawley,” Leuthold asked.
Fawley shook her head.
Leuthold then was ready to pass his sentence.
“You were on probation for burglary. That’s no small matter,” Leuthold said. “People whine that there are no victims of addicts, that they are only hurting themselves. The truth is that in almost every case there are victims. I see it every day.”
Noting that the court had given her chance after chance, Leuthold declared, “I’m done.”
He sentenced Fawley to 30 months on the original burglary charge and 10 months on the new charge for a total of 40 months in prison. She will receive credit for jail time served against the 10-month sentence.