By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Joseph Stover won’t be doing any jail time but he will have to pay up for his crimes.
The 33-year-old Stover, who is listed as living in Fort Myers, Florida, pleaded guilty in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to improperly handling a firearm and motor vehicle, a felony four offense. On June 16, 2013, Stover had a loaded firearm in a vehicle, with the weapon also being accessible to the driver without leaving the vehicle.
Judge Russell Wiseman sentenced Stover to three years on community control with the special condition that he successfully completes a drug and alcohol assessment and any follow-up treatment. He was credited 59 days for time he had already served and ordered to pay a $750 fine and supervision costs. Stover must also forfeit a Walther PPK 380, along with other firearms and drug paraphernalia, to the Bucyrus Police Department.
Stover’s attorney Tom Nicholson informed Wiseman that Stover’s family and friends live in Florida and Nicholson anticipated Stover would want to be there with them. Wiseman, consulting with Adult Probation Officer Dan Wurm, said the matter would depend upon whether anyone else would accept supervision in Florida.