BUCYRUS — Michael Sturtz of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to change his plea.
Sturtz pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in drugs, each a fourth-degree felony and each punishable with up to 18 months in prison, and one charge of burglary, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold accepted a plea deal worked out by the state and Sturtz’s attorney.
Leuthold sentenced Sturtz, 31, to five years in prison on the burglary charge and 12 months on each count of trafficking in drugs to be run concurrently with the five-year sentence for a total of five years in prison. Leuthold noted that Sturt had no felony record, which is why he decided to allow the plea.
Sturtz enquired about judicial release.
“You’ll have to serve four years of this sentence and then you will become eligible for judicial release,” Leuthold said. “That doesn’t mean you’ll get it because I’m the one who decided that.”
Sturtz was ordered to forfeit all drug related property to the Crawford County Sherriff and will receive 136 days of jail time credit.
In other court action, Brandon Tuttle, 22, of Tiro appeared in court to plead guilty to theft, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison. Leuthold delayed sentencing until a pre-sentence investigation could be completed. When the report is submitted to the court, Leuthold will hear arguments for recommended sentencing.
While awaiting completion of the report, Leuthold ordered Tuttle to be released from the Crawford County Justice Center on a personal recognizance bond.
“You’d better not get into any trouble while you’re on bond. You will obey the terms and conditions of this bond,” Leuthold said. “You will come back to court on time and you’d better test clean. If you stay clean and stay out of trouble, I will look at continuing the community control. If you mess up, you are going to prison.”
Bucyrus attorney Tom Nicholson appeared with his client, Alyssa Ridder, of Mansfield. Ridder, 24, is charged with two counts of possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies punishable with up to 12 months in prison on each count.
The purpose of today’s hearing was an effort by Nicholson to get his client’s bond reduced. Ridder is currently in the Crawford County Justice Center on a bond of $75,000.
Nicholson asked the court to consider lowering his client’s bond. He noted that her crimes are low level felonies and that his client was a passenger in a car that was stopped by police.
He said she has no family here except her boyfriend and that if the bail was more reasonable, they could raise the money to get her released.
Assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler told the court that Ridder’s boyfriend is a co-defendant in the case, illegal substances were found in a lint roller that was in her purse which had a secret compartment for drugs.
Hoovler told the court that the state had made a plea offer that Ridder is considering.
When asked about Ridder’s previous record, Hoovler told Leuthold that she had three prior felonies in Mercer and Auglaize counties. He noted that there are possible new charges to be added in the case.
“Her only tie to this community is her co-defendant,” Leuthold said. “I have three prior felonies to consider, there are also possible new charges. This also involves two dangerous drugs being fentanyl and heroin. Bond will stay at $75,000.”
James Shope, 29, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. Leuthold accepted a plea agreement and sentenced Shope to a flat six months in jail. He was ordered to forfeit all drug related property to the Bucyrus Police Department. He will receive 31 days of jail time credit.
Kristopher Burns, 21, of Mansfield pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Burns was placed on community control in October 2018 after he pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
According to probation officer Chris Heydinger Burns violated his community control when he moved without notifying probation, lost his job and failed to report for office visits after April 16. On July 9, Burns tested positive for drugs. He was found to be living with a convicted felon who is out on bond from federal drug charges.
Leuthold sentenced Burns to a flat seven months in prison.