BUCYRUS — Veronika Stephens of Delaware appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Thursday to face two charges.
Stephens, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
As part of a plea negation, Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Stephens to one year for each count for a total of two years in prison.
Stephens was ordered to forfeit all drug-related property to the appropriate authorities. She will receive 57 days of jail time credit. Leuthold said he would not oppose transitional control if the prison requested it.
In other court action, Randi Gerhart, 28, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison and one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced Gerhart nine months on each count for a total of 18 months in prison.
Gerhart was ordered for forfeit all drug-related property to the Crawford County Sheriff. She will receive 66 days of jail time credit. Leuthold said he would not oppose transitional control if the prison requested it.
Alec Webb, 19, formerly of Lorain pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
Webb was originally sent to prison for three years in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison.
Webb was granted judicial release in April and was placed on five years of community control. According to probation officer Jeremy Clay, on May 11, Webb tested positive for THC. He was placed in a holding cell where he damaged and defaced the walls with his handcuffs.
Before sentencing Webb, Leuthold asked him if he had anything to say. Webb said he did not.
“How about if you say that you’re going to stop acting like an idiot?” Leuthold asked.
Leuthold continued Webb’s community control, but he must serve 100 days in the county jail as a special condition.
“Knock it off man,” Leuthold said.
Diondre Adams, 24, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
In November 2019, Adams was sentenced to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of complicity, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. Adams was granted judicial release on May 6.
According to probation officer Jeremy Clay, he witnessed Adams singing on Sandusky Avenue on May 20. After judicial release Adams had been ordered to self-quarantine for two weeks upon release from prison. Adams also admitted to taking supplements to alter a drug test.
Leuthold continued Adams’ community control with the special condition that he spends 60 days in the county jail.
“Diondre, I’m giving you one last shot. For the love of God, do what you are supposed to do,” Leuthold said.
Jason Brown, 34, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
In 2017, Brown was sentenced to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of drugs, each fifth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to one year in prison. Brown was granted judicial release in November 2019.
According to probation officer Eric Bohach, on June 8, Brown was found unresponsive due to a drug overdose, drug paraphernalia was found, and Brown tested positive for fentanyl.
In a plea negotiation, Leuthold imposed the remainder of Brown’s prison sentence. The prosecution agreed that no new charges would be filed because of this incident.
Brown will receive credit for all time served. Leuthold said he would not oppose transitional control if the prison requested it.
“This has been the subject of a great deal of negotiation in chambers. I’m happy you are alive,” Leuthold said. “It means you’ve got another chance. Every time I can take you away from the drugs it’s to save you. You’re still with us. As long as you’re alive you have one more chance to change. One of these days you’re going to spin the wheel against drugs, and you will not make it. I’m doing this to keep him alive.”