Fugitive returned to county by U.S. Marshals

BUCYRUS — A Mansfield man who skipped out on his community control was arraigned in Crawford County Common Pleas Court via video on Wednesday.

Louis Lulenski, 29, formerly of Mansfield, was placed on community control after he pleaded guilty to felonious assault, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison. Lulenski took the plea in April and avoided a prison sentence due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Lulenski was featured in Crawford County Now as a most wanted fugitive. According to probation officer Eric Bohach, the department received tips that Lulenski was living in the Akron area. Bohach also received information that Lulenski had repeatedly tried to contact the victim between November 2019 and May 2020.

After receiving the information, Bohach contacted U.S. Marshals in the Akron area. They arrested Lulenski on Friday and transported him back to the Crawford County Jail.

Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold ordered the matter set for a full hearing. He appointed attorney Sebastian Berger to represent Lulenski and bond was set at $150,000.

In other court action, Brian Lookabaugh, 53, of Galion pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, one charge of possession of drugs and one charge of resisting arrested were dismissed. Lookabaugh will spend the next two years in prison with a possible judicial release in the future.

Travis Beatty, 28, of Crestline pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.

In a plea negotiation, Beatty will spend five years on community control. He was ordered to have a drug and alcohol assessment and any follow up treatment as needed. Beatty will forfeit all drug-related property to the Galion Police Department.

Diondre Adams, 24, of Bucyrus appeared via video on allegations he violated the terms and conditions of his community control. Adams was sentenced to three years in prison in November 2019 after he pleaded guilty to complicity, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison.

Adams was granted judicial release on May 6. He was told to self-quarantine for 14 days and to report to the local health department.

Probation officer Jeremy Clay observed Adams dancing on the square, thus violating the quarantine order. Clay also told the court that Adams altered samples for drug screening twice.

Leuthold ordered the matter set for a full hearing. Bond was set at $50,000 and Leuthold appointed attorney Brian Gernert to represent Adams.

John Garcia, 53, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.

Leuthold sentenced Garcia to five years of community control. He was ordered to complete a drug and alcohol assessment and any follow up treatment required. Garcia will forfeit all drug-related property to the Galion Police Department.

Stacy Smith, 36, of Galion appeared for a pre-trial on allegations of criminal nonsupport. As is normal procedure when defendants are free on bond, Smith was given a drug test. She tested positive for marijuana.

Smith was originally sentenced to four years in prison after she pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs in 2018. She was granted judicial release in April and placed on community control.

On May 19, Smith was taken into custody after she tested positive for methamphetamines. Smith posted bond and was released.

Smith vehemently denied using any drugs since her bond and insisted her probation officer, Kylie Sinclair, had missed the positive marijuana line on her last test. Leuthold asked Sinclair to respond and Sinclair told the court that there was no marijuana in the last test and that she had probation officer Eric Bohach confirm the test. Bohach verified that Smith had not tested positive for marijuana at the last test.

A tearful Smith continued to deny the use of marijuana. Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler asked the court to revoke Smith’s bond, noting that she is unable to follow the conditions of community control.

Smith’s attorney, Tom Nicholson, told the court that his client recently learned she is pregnant, and he felt jail would not be safe for her at this time.

Leuthold gave Smith the opportunity to come clean about the marijuana usage.

“You test positive for meth and there was no marijuana in that test. That tells me that you smoked marijuana after that test,” Leuthold said. “I have two staff members confirming that there was no marijuana present in the last test. I go by the facts.”

After conferring with his client, Nicholson told the court she would plead guilty to the allegations.

Leuthold continued Smith’s bond for 30 days until the sentencing hearing.

“Look, I’m not feeling too good about this. With COVID-19 and the fact that you’re pregnant, it makes me leery to place you in jail,” Leuthold said. “However, I will not let you harm this unborn child. You will be tested and if anything comes up on a future test you will be arrested immediately, and you will stay in jail until I sentence you. This is your chance to prove to me that you are off the drugs. You’ve got 48 months hanging over your head and I will send you to prison.”