BUCYRUS — Terry Thoman, of Crestline appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, both third-degree felonies, each punishable with up to 36 months in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison.
Before sentencing Thoman, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold asked him his age. Thoman told the judge he is 53 and has lived in Crawford County his whole life.
“Why in the world would you think it’s OK to sell meth in Crawford County? People who sell drugs in this county go to prison,” Leuthold said. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that?”
In accordance with a plea agreement worked out between the state and Thoman’s attorney, Brad Starkey, Leuthold sentenced Thoman to 24 months on each of the third-degree trafficking charges and 11 months on the possession charge.
Thoman will receive jail time credit and was ordered to forfeit all drug related property to the Crawford County Sheriff.
In other action, Robert Bowersock, 46, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to 12 months in prison. Bowersock had been on community control since 2013 after being granted judicial release from then Common Pleas Court Judge Wiseman on a burglary charge, a second-degree felony. Wiseman sentenced Bowersock to four years in prison but granted him judicial release after serving approximately half of that sentence.
Along with the new charge of possession of drugs, Bowersock violated the terms and conditions of his community control. He stopped reporting for scheduled office visits in January. In March, he tested positive for meth, cocaine and methamphetamines.
Leuthold re-imposed the original prison sentence and added another 12 months in prison to run concurrently with the original sentence. Bowersock will receive 36 days of jail time credit.
Ashley Lewis, 27, of Galion pleaded guilty to endangering children, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 36 months in prison. The charge came after one of her children tested positive for cocaine.
Before sentencing Lewis, Leuthold asked if she had anything to say.
“I apologize. This is not who I am, and I am working hard to forgive myself.”
“Well that’s a terrible approach! I don’t think you should ever forgive yourself,” Leuthold said. “And let me tell you as you sit here today this is who you are! The good news is you don’t have to stay that way.
“People always try to tell me that drug use is a victimless crime,” Leuthold continued. “Well, here’s a little girl who tested positive for cocaine. So, don’t tell me this is a victimless crime. Get your act together and be the mother these kids need.”
Lewis was sentenced to 36 months in prison. She will receive 36 days of jail time credit. Leuthold said he would allow phone calls and contact between Lewis and her children as advised by Children’s Services.
Anissa Surgener, 31, formerly of Tiffin appeared before Leuthold on a community control violation. Surgener pleaded guilty in 2017 to two counts of theft, each fifth-degree felonies punishable with up to 12 months in prison and two counts of forgery both fifth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
Leuthold sentenced her to five years of community control and a community-based corrections facility in Tiffin. In 2018, Surgener again violated her probation and Leuthold sentenced her to a total of 48 months in prison. She was granted judicial release in October 2018.
According to probation officer Chris Heydinger, Surgener submitted to a required drug screen and tampered with the results. On April 12, Surgener tested positive for fentanyl and admitted using the drug.
Leuthold imposed her original sentence of 48 months in prison.
“I didn’t want to see this. You’re lucky you’re not getting new charges after this nonsense,” Leuthold said. “With new charges you could have gotten another 48 months in prison.”