BUCYRUS — A Galion woman’s tears and excuses left the judge unmoved when she appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to admit to violating the terms and conditions of her community control.
Jennifer Saldivar, 31 of Galion pleaded guilty to violating her community control and avoided a new charge of tampering with evidence.
Saldivar had been placed on community control in January after she tried to use synthetic urine in a drug screening. She was charged with tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
According to probation officer Jessica Sinclair, Saldivar reported an item stolen that was she had, in fact, pawned and was charged with falsification by the Galion Police Department. She failed to report the contact with police to her probation officer.
When Saldivar appeared in Galion for the falsification charges, she was placed in a holding cell where another bottle of synthetic urine was located.
In a plea agreement, Leuthold approved a 36-month prison sentence and no additional tampering with evidence charges forthcoming.
When asked if she had anything to say, Saldivar said that she had been clean for 12 years, owned a home and had custody of her four children. She said that she had been back on meth since July.
She accused her boyfriend of selling all their items and emptying out the home. Saldivar said she purchased the synthetic urine at a store in Galion to use for a drug test so she could get a job at a fast food restaurant.
“You need to face some facts. This is the classic behavior of a meth addict,” Leuthold said. “You’ve lost control of your life. Your four children are in foster care because they were taken away in August, one month after you started using meth. You have completely screwed up your life with meth. If I let you out, you’ll be right back here in a day or two. You’ve been on community control less than a month. Everything good in your life has been ruined in six months on meth.”
Leuthold sentenced Saldivar to the full 36 months in prison but told her that he would look at release into a community-based correctional facility after she serves 18 months in prison.
“You’re 31 but you look 41. That’s what meth will do to you,” Leuthold said. “The good news is you can bounce back when you’re clean. You can’t be trusted to run your own life. I’m doing this today to keep you alive.”
In other court action, Dustin Blankenship, 25, of Bucyrus was charged with violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Blankenship was sentenced to 12 months in prison in February 2019 after he pleaded guilty to possession of drugs. He was granted judicial release in May and placed on community control.
According to probation officer Chris Heydinger, Blankenship moved from his address without permission and failed to report for scheduled office visits since November. On December 9, Blankenship refused to take a drug test.
Leuthold ordered the matter set for a hearing. Attorney Joel Spitzer was appointed to represent Blankenship and bond was set at $50,000.
Jeremy Gross, 45, Bucyrus was detained for a hearing to address whether he violated the conditions of his community control. Gross was placed on community control in April after he pleaded guilty to felony child non-support, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
According to probation officer Chris Heydinger, on February 11, Gross was found driving under suspension. He also tested positive for meth and methamphetamines.
Leuthold ordered Gross held on $25,000 bond and appointed attorney Andrew Motter to represent him.