By Kathy Laird
Joshua Kohls, 38, of Galion faced sentencing in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Kohls came to court with his attorney Brad Starkey and shared his story of addiction to methamphetamines.
Kohls, a massage therapist by trade and mixed martial artist who volunteers time in the gym told Judge Sean Leuthold that meth was the worst thing that ever happened to him.
Kohls, formerly of Columbus, was in a serious car accident leaving him with two broken feet. Unable to take care of himself or pursue his love of fitness, he moved back home to Galion. It was there that old friends from high school introduced him to meth.
His addiction, which lasted four months, landed him with charges of obstructing justice, tampering with evidence and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. He shared with the court that in four months he lost 30 pounds and still is below his ideal weight.
After listening to Kohl’s story, Leuthold shared his thoughts on methamphetamines in Crawford County.
“The long and short of it is that heroine comes from all over. Cartels have dumped cheap meth into the country. This stuff eats you alive,” Leuthold said. “You can’t sleep, you’re hyped up, aggressive and agitated. You can have hallucinations and become violent and dangerous. The stuff fries your brain. I am not going to let this get a foothold in Crawford County.”
Giving credit to Kohls for his honesty and willingness to take responsibility for his own actions, Leuthold still imposed a 48-month prison sentence.
“You came in here and told your story and you were straight with me. We will do everything we can to help you,” Leuthold said.
If Kohls earns an early release, he will be under the supervision of probation officer Eric Bohach.
The judge described Bohach as strict but fair.
“We are going to get you back on your feet, figuratively and literally,” Leuthold concluded.