By Gary Ogle and Krystal Smalley
gogle@wbcowqel.com; ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold had a singular message for defendants who appeared before him Tuesday for violating probation rules: “If you don’t want to play by our rules, we’re not going to play with you – you’re going to prison.”
Four people admitted they had violated their community control Tuesday and three of them were sentenced to prison. All three were revoked from community control.
Greg Bauer was sentenced to 13 months. Bauer, of Crestline, was originally convicted of felony DUI.
Zachary Tolar was sentenced to 16 months. Tolar, of Bucyrus, was originally convicted of theft.
Ross Craner was sentenced to eight months. Craner is from Galion and was originally convicted of possession of drugs
The fourth person, Courtney McRoberts, had her community control extended to the maximum five years allowable and will be held until she can be placed in the CROSSWAEH in-patient addiction treatment program.
Brandon Yoder’s motion to be placed on the intervention in lieu of conviction program was granted. Yoder’s guilty plea to felony drug possession will be held while he is in the program for an initial period of two years.
Heather Trummell plead guilty fifth-degree felony drug possession. In a plea arrangement Trummell’s sentence is expected to be five years on community control and completion of a drug and alcohol treatment program along with a six-month suspension of her driver’s license. Sentencing will occur after a pre-sentence investigation is completed.
Twenty-seven-year-old Michael Fletcher of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to deception to obtain a dangerous drug, a fourth-degree felony. The prosecution recommended three years on community control, a six-month license suspension, and a $2,500 mandatory drug fine. As part of the sentence, Fletcher would also enter into a drug and alcohol treatment program and forfeit any drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department.
Leuthold found Fletcher guilty of his crime and ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed before Fletcher returned for a sentencing hearing. Leuthold continued Fletcher’s bond and returned him to jail.
Twenty-five-year-old Kara Lynn Burns of Galion pleaded guilty to drug possession. The prosecution recommended five years on community control with the stipulation that she enter into a drug and alcohol treatment program. Her license may also be suspended for six months and she will have to pay a $1,250 mandatory drug fine as well as forfeit any drug-related property to the Bucyrus Police Department.
Leuthold found Burns guilty of drug possession, ordered a pre-sentence investigation, and continued her bond.
Twenty-four-year-old Jessica Cains was being shuffled between Crawford and Wyandot counties as she answered for her crimes. Cains, who is currently dealing with an illegal conveyance felony in Wyandot, appeared in Common Pleas Court for community control violations.
Cains’ parole officer stated that on Jan. 29 Cains had attempted to alter her urine test and tested positive for opiates, Oxycodone, marijuana, and benzodiazepines. Leuthold appointed Cassandra Mayer as Cains’ attorney and set bond at $150,000.
Cains had been on community control for a 2010 drug possession case and a 2012 theft case.
Leuthold approved 21-year-old Brittany Rose of Bucyrus for the court’s two-year diversion program. Rose submitted a guilty plea for receiving stolen property, which will be held until she successfully completes diversion. Rose must also pay $457.37 in restitution to the victim in the case.
Thirty-eight-year-old Jared Slagle of Galion had requested a reduction in bond but assistant prosecutor Hoovler argued that Slagle had been caught with 10 grams of cocaine in possession. Leuthold continued the $150,000 bond that had been set in Municipal Court. Slagle will be proceeding to trial, which has been set for March 3.