By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A series of thefts resulted in lengthy prison sentences for a man and woman who pleaded guilty in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Tuesday.
Edward Springer and Emma Lilly pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree theft, two counts of fourth-degree grand theft of a motor vehicle, and three counts of fifth-degree breaking and entering. Springer, a 48-year-old Findlay man, received a total of 60 months in prison while Lilly, a 37-year-old Alvada woman, was sentenced to 59 months. The duo must also pay $3,000 fines and restitution, and Springer must forfeit a 2011 Honda CRV.
Lilly claimed that she was led astray by her boyfriend and apologized for her actions.
“I can’t take it back now. I’ve got to deal with it,” Lilly said.
Judge Sean Leuthold acknowledged that coercion most likely took place, along with the fact that the pair were drug users looking to cash in items, but did not discount the fact that Lilly played a role in the crimes.
“Drug addiction explains your behavior perfectly. It doesn’t excuse it,” the judge said before noting that Lilly and Springer stole from one victim’s garage multiple times. “I feel a lot more sorry for him than I do for you.”
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Three people appeared for initial hearings on community control violations.
Twenty-six-year-old Jacari Davison allegedly possessed marijuana and operated a motor vehicle with a suspended license. Davison indicated he would hire a lawyer and bond was set at $75,000.
Davison was placed on the prosecutor’s diversion program in 2014 for receiving stolen property, but violations led to him being put on community control in 2015.
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Twenty-eight-year-old Ian Dudley, of Bucyrus, allegedly admitted to taking a controlled substance, consuming beer, possessing beer, and being at a bar. Brian Gernert was appointed as Dudley’s attorney and bond was set at $50,000. Dudley pleaded guilty to drug possession in 2015 and was placed on community control.
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Forty-six-year-old Chad Perdue, of Bucyrus, allegedly possessed marijuana and failed to contact his supervising officer after he was cited by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Tani Eyer was appointed as his attorney and he was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Perdue pleaded guilty to theft and receiving stolen property in 2015. He was placed on probation for five years.
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Twenty-four-year-old Justin Steele appeared for an arraignment hearing. Steele allegedly spit on a corrections officer while being held in the county jail on Dec. 11 after he was arrested for disorderly conduct by intoxication. He was charged with harassment with bodily substance, a fifth-degree felony, and he was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Chade Kennedy was granted judicial release after serving 21 months in prison for burglary. He was placed on community control for five years and was ordered to complete drug and alcohol treatment.
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