By Kathy Laird
It was a busy day in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
Danny Haney, 42, of Crestline, accepted a plea deal that ended in a 13-year prison sentence. Haney pleaded guilty to six various felonies including drug trafficking, permitting drug abuse and a second-degree felony charge for possession of drugs.
When arrested, Haney had 40 grams of heroin in his possession. He was ordered to forfeit a 1990 Chevrolet pick-up truck, a Vizio flat screen TV and two firearms to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. He was also ordered to forfeit two separate amounts of cash, in the amounts of $4,650 and $376, to be split between the sheriff’s office and the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.
Judge Sean Leuthold asked Haney before passing sentence, “What made you think this was a good idea to sell these kinds of drugs in Crawford County,” Judge Sean Leuthold asked Haney before passing sentence. “How did you think this was going to end?”
In what some took as a sincere fashion, Haney addressed the judge.
“I thought it would end just like you say, one of two ways, either here or in the graveyard,” Haney said. “It’s better that I’m here.”
Haney said that he was in a bad auto accident several years ago and became addicted to painkillers. After the doctors refused to prescribe more, he turned to heroin. Eventually, his habit got up to four grams per day and the rest he was selling to support his habit.
Leuthold encouraged Haney by reminding him that he still had a life ahead of him after prison and wished him well in making the best of his life.
Haney will receive credit for jail time served.
Katherine Villavicencio, 42, of Nevada, did not receive a sentence even though she pleaded guilty to violating the terms of her community control.
Villavicencio was arrested for two incidents of operating a motor vehicle under the influence as well as failure to report to her probation officer as required under the terms of her probation.
After intense negotiations between the state and Villavicencio’s attorney, Tani Eyer, Leuthold agreed to postpone sentencing for 60 days so that Villavicencio could be seen in Municipal Court’s Mental Health Court.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Ms. Villavicencio, this is not a get out of jail free pass,” Leuthold said.
Noting that Eyer had presented evidence of current mental health conditions to the court on behalf of Villavicencio, Leuthold was moved to give her an opportunity to get the help she needs.
Leuthold set a personal recognizance bond for Villavicencio but admonished her, “If you’re caught committing a crime, drinking and driving a car, I will put you in prison. I hope you get the help you need.”