By Kathy Laird

It was a busy day in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Ashley Smith, 32, of Crestline pleaded guilty to theft and was ordered to pay restitution to her victims. Smith admitted to stealing $13,684 from EMC Insurance and $380 from the Automated Petroleum Company.

Smith was placed on five years of community control and ordered to make restitution as part of terms and conditions of her probation.

If Smith fails to pay restitution she faces prison time.

Darryl Keller (right) of Bucyrus sits with attorney Andy Motter. Keller was sentenced to seven months in prison for possession of drugs.

Darryl Keller, 33, of Bucyrus will spend seven months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of drugs. He was ordered to pay a $1,250 fine and must forfeit all drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department.

Billy Riddle II, 34, of Galion decided to turn down a plea offer and take his case to trial.

Riddle is facing charges of illegal conveyance of drugs into a detention facility, a third-degree felony. Riddles faces up to 36 months in prison. Riddle also has 698 days of a prior prison sentence that would total five years in prison if he is convicted at trial.

Billy Riddle II of Bucyrus sits with attorney Andy Motter while Riddle rejects a plea deal and chooses to go to trial.

The prosecution offered Riddle 18 months in prison.

Judge Sean Leuthold explained the circumstances to Riddle.

“You have every right to a jury trial. However, as of today the plea deal that was offered to you is off the table,” Leuthold said.

An insubordinate Riddle told Leuthold, “I’ll take 12 months flat, today.”

The judge admonished Riddle saying, “You don’t talk to me about any deal, you talk to your lawyer. The state has made it clear that 18 months is the only offer being made to you.”

The matter will be set for trial.

Deshawnte Alexander (right) of Cleveland listens to Judge Sean Leuthold while sitting next to attorney Joel Spitzer.

Deshawnte Alexander, 25, of Cleveland found himself on his way to prison for eight months. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs.

He was ordered to pay a $1,250 fine and forfeit all drug-related property to the Crestline Police Department.

Jerry Camron, 55, of Bucyrus will spend 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to theft and a probation violation.

Jerry Cameron (center) sits with attorney Joel Spitzer while Cameron is told he will serve 24 months in prison.

Cameron admitted to receiving $5,376 in unemployment payments that he was not entitled to receive. Cameron was ordered to make restitution to Job and Family Services.

Cameron was given until March 23 at 7 p.m. to report to the Crawford County Sherriff’s Office for transport to prison.