By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
James Martin’s and Erin Lewis’ cases were nearly identical, but a couple of grams and a willingness to plead guilty made the difference in Martin’s prison sentence.
Though originally scheduled for a suppression hearing in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Wednesday afternoon, 29-year-old Martin, of Galion, instead pleaded guilty to drug possession, a second-degree felony. Martin was sentenced to six years in prison – two years shy of the maximum sentence – and fined $7,500. Once he has completed his prison term, he will be subject to mandatory post release control. Martin will also have his driver’s license suspended for six months and will have to forfeit seized drug property to the Bucyrus Police Department.
Assistant prosecutor Rob Kidd noted that he filed a complaint with the Crawford County Municipal Court concerning a tampering with evidence charge. He agreed to dismiss that charge in return for Martin’s plea agreement.
“This has been one of the few cases where this person’s sentence background does not tell the story,” defense attorney Adam Stone said.
Martin had been sentenced to four years in prison in 2010 for having weapons under disability and taking part in an unlawful transaction in weapons. He was also placed on probation in 2006 after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of attempted escape.
Stone pointed to Martin’s background and contrasted it with their interactions together since the attorney took the case, noting Martin’s intelligence and engagement throughout the proceedings.
“This is by far the most intelligent young man I’ve worked with,” Stone said.
Judge Sean Leuthold agreed, but cautioned it with his own assessment of Martin’s character.
“His judgment seems to be the problem,” Leuthold said. “Being intelligent doesn’t mean you’re smart.”
The judge compared Martin’s sentence to that of Erin Lewis, who also attempted to suppress evidence in his drug possession case exactly one year ago. Lewis eventually pleaded no contest and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Lewis attempted to appeal the decision, but the Court of Appeals of Ohio Third Appellate District upheld Leuthold’s ruling, setting a precedent for probable cause arrests.
Leuthold noted the number of drug dealers he has put away and the lengthy sentences he has handed down since taking the bench and questioned why he keeps seeing defendants appear in court for the same crime.
“I need to know why I’m not getting through to certain people,” Leuthold said to Martin.
“We know what’s going on. We know what we’re risking,” Martin acknowledged. “Some of us choose to ignore that.”
“Some end up in prison,” Leuthold pointed out.
“Or dead,” Martin said.
RELATED CONTENT: Bond set at $1 million for man accused of running meth lab