BUCYRUS — Gary Thomas, 57, and Tammy Storer, 53, both of Galion, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday to plead to indictments delivered by the Crawford County Grand Jury.
The couple are each accused of counterfeiting, both fourth-degree felonies, each punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold appointed attorney Geoff Stoll to represent Thomas and Brian Gernert to represent Storer.
Leuthold granted a continuance for the couple on a personal recognizance bond. When Leuthold ordered the couple to have no contact with the victim in the case, Thomas spoke up and said the alleged victim is his banking institution.
Prosecutor Matt Crall told the court that the couple was accused of passing Chinese-made counterfeit $100 bills at Galion Building and Loan. The defendant asserted that he pays all his bills through the institution. Leuthold granted him permission to conduct business with the institution.
In other court news, Elizabeth Blankenship, 19, of Marion was indicted on one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. Leuthold appointed attorney Tani Eyer to represent Blankenship and continued her personal recognizance bond.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to wear jeans with holes in the knees into the courtroom of a judge who could send you to prison?” Leuthold asked. “I don’t expect you to buy expensive clothes for court, but I do expect to see you in more appropriate clothing when you come back in here.”
Dionte Washington, 26, of Crestline was arraigned via video from the Crawford County Justice Center. Washington is charged with having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison, possession of cocaine, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable with up to six months in jail.
Leuthold appointed attorney Tom Nicholson at Washington’s request.
“These charges involve guns, drugs, and a domestic dispute resulting in assault because the victim does not live with the alleged perpetrator,” Leuthold said. “For those purposes bond will be set at $250,000.”
Russell Hockmuth, 21, of Tiffin was arraigned on one count of pandering obscenities involving a minor, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison.
According to Prosecutor Matt Crall, Hockmuth received a nude photo from his girlfriend who was a minor. Hockmuth then posted the photo to Facebook. Leuthold appointed attorney Joel Spitzer to represent Hockmuth. Bond was continued at $500,000.
Rickey Akers, Jr., 34, of Galion was charged with one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison and drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor punishable with up to 90 days in jail. Attorney Grant Gaverick was appointed to represent Akers and bond was set at $50,000.
Matthew Hale, 39, of Mansfield was charged with one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison. Attorney Brian Gernert was appointed to represent Hale and bond was set at $25,000.