BUCYRUS — Mitchell Hensley, of Bucyrus, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to plead guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison.

As part of a plea agreement, the state dropped two fourth-degree felony possession of drugs charges, each punishable with up to 18 months in prison.

Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Hensley, 47, to five years in prison, with a possible judicial release after he serves four years of the sentence.

Hensley’s crime falls under the provisions of the Reagan Tokes Act. In cases of the most serious felonies (first and second degree), the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is permitted to add or deduct prison time from an offender depending on the inmate’s conduct.

If an inmate displays poor conduct, his sentence can be increased by as much as 50 percent. In Hensley’s case, the prison could add two-and-a-half years to his five-year sentence for poor behavior. If Hensley’s conduct is exemplary, his sentence can be reduced by five to fifteen percent.

When asked if he had anything to say before sentencing, Hensley thanked law enforcement, the state, and the court.

“I am sorry. If this had not happened, based on the high amounts of drugs I was doing, I would be dead,” Hensley said.

“You are right. This ends one of two ways: Either dead or in prison,” Leuthold said. “You have the right attitude. Take advantage of the programs they have in there. We will see you down the road and try to help you along.”

In other court news, Travis Stuckert, 30, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of illegal conveyance of prohibited items into a detention facility, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison.

In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced Stuckert to five years on community control and participation in his ISAT (Intensive Supervision and Treatment ) Program.

Leuthold noted how much better Stuckert looked than the last time he saw him.

“I had to get you in a clean and sober position and then try to help you. The good news is that you can fix this,” Leuthold said. “But be warned, I will not be afraid to send you to prison to keep you alive or keep your family safe. You have a nice family. You can get back. This is step one. You have a long way to go.”

Stuckert was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Probation officer Jeremy Clay was assigned to supervise Stuckert.