By Kathy Laird
CCN Corespondent
After Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold declared he had done everything possible to help a Galion woman, he sadly sent her to prison. Keelie Moyer 28 was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to violating the terms and conditions of her community control.
Moyer was on community control after being found guilty of drug trafficking. According to Probation Officer Eric Bohach, Moyer violated the terms and conditions of her probation on three counts occurring between February 1 and April 23. According to Bohach, Moyer failed to report her residence and employment, associated with a known felon, and tested positive for THC and alcohol.
Before pronouncing sentence, Leuthold tried once again to reason with Moyer. “I’m gonna go out on a limb here and tell you that (the known felon) has probably found another woman,” Leuthold said. “He has put you in prison and he’s out there walking around and probably had you replaced immediately after you were arrested.”
“I don’t care”, Moyer said.
“You’d better care because you’re going to prison because of him,” Leuthold said. “He’s free; you’re going to prison. These guys use you and they don’t care about you. The people sitting in this courtroom who have tried to help you care more about you than (he) does. This is a sad day for me. I wanted to see you succeed. There’s more to you than what we have seen. Do your time, get some help in prison and when you come out, turn your life around.”
John Spears, 40, of Bucyrus appeared in Common Pleas Court to answer to charges of violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Spears was granted Judicial Release in February of 2018 after serving several years in prison on drug trafficking charges. Spears was charged with two counts of assault and one count of resisting arrest after incidents that allegedly occurred on May 13. Bond was set at $100,000 and attorney Jeffrey Stoll was appointed to represent Spears.
Time on the run was over for one defendant who was sentenced to nine months in prison. Seth Horsley, 26, of Bucyrus, was captured after a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear for a pre-trial hearing.
Judge Sean Leuthold greeted Horsley. “Where have you been Mr. Horsley,” Leuthold said. “You don’t write, you don’t call. Where have you been?”
Leuthold went on to declare that he knew Horsley had gone on the run. In a plea worked out between the state and Horsley’s attorney, Tani Eyer, Horsley will spend the next nine months in prison. “I’m going to follow this recommendation, but I have to tell you that it did you no good to run. It was nice of you to pose with the bail bondswoman who arrested you, though.”
Dakota Matthews, 18, of Bucyrus, will spend the next five years on community control after he was bound over from Juvenile Court to be tried as an adult. Matthews appeared in court to sign a Bill of Information waiving his right to have charges brought against him through the Grand Jury process and agreed to a plea deal.
Judge Sean Leuthold noted for the official record that this deal has been six months in the making. “It’s not as though we brought you in here and had you sign a waiver and rushed to sentence you. There has been much negotiation by your attorney and the state to come to this agreement,” Leuthold said.
Noting that Matthews had been in jail for six months, Leuthold agreed to the deal. Matthews pled guilty to aggravated assault. If he fails to complete community control successfully, Matthews faces up to 18 months in prison.
Matthews is to have no contact with the victim. Leuthold stressed that any comments made on social media would be considered a violation of community control. Leuthold asked Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler if the victim had been made aware of all proceedings and the potential agreement. Hoovler indicated that he has spoken with the victim and they were comfortable with the agreement. Hoovler also told the court that the victim chose not to be present in court during the sentencing.
Leuthold addressed Matthews before sentencing.
“Mr. Matthews not many people are 18 and sitting in jail being bound over to adult court,” Leuthold said. “It’s not the perfect start into adulthood. You’re an adult now, you’re not a kid anymore. You’re a grown man and you’re going to be treated like a grown man. You are going to live a law-abiding and quiet life. You are going to be free from jail today. Do not come back here to see me because you violated. It will not be good for you.”