By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Four people may have entered guilty pleas in Common Pleas Court Monday but only one will not make it home for the holidays.
Twenty-six-year-old Ronald Tyson, of Galion, pleaded guilty to a felony two charge of drug possession in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Monday afternoon. Tyson admitted to possessing over 100 unit doses of heroin on Sept. 29, 2013.
He was sentenced to four years in prison and must pay a $2,500 mandatory drug fine. The State recommended judicial release after Tyson has served two years. Tyson’s driver’s license was suspended for six months and he forfeited drugs and drug paraphernalia being held by the Bucyrus Police Department. He will receive credit for the 72 days he has already served in jail.
Nathan Plank pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 1, 2013, Plank had engaged in sexual conduct with a minor between the ages of 13 and 16.
Plank, who does not have a felony record and therefore did not qualify for prison time under a fourth-degree felony, was placed on community control for three years. He must also register as a Tier II sex offender with the county sheriff within three days of his release from jail and reregister every 180 days for the next 25 years. Judge Russell Wiseman ordered Plank to enter and successfully complete sex offender counseling. Plank must also pay a $750 fine.
Fifty-four-year-old Brenda Lauthers, of Bucyrus, entered a guilty plea to a felony four count of theft. Lauthers, who had taken benefits she wasn’t entitled to from the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) between July 27, 2010 and Aug. 22, 2012, was placed on community control for three years. Lauthers must pay a $750 fine as well as $14,000 in restitution to the ODJFS. She is subject to 18 months in prison if she fails to successfully complete her community control.
Twenty-two-year-old Jesse Tolar, of Galion, pleaded guilty to a felony five drug possession. Tolar had possessed heroin on Oct. 3, 2013.
He was placed on community control for three years and was credited 68 days for time he had already served. Tolar must undergo a drug and alcohol assessment and any follow-up treatment. His driver’s license was suspended for six months and he must also pay a $1,250 drug fine.
Jesse Melba had been granted a second chance when he was placed on intervention in lieu of conviction in July but that chance seemed to have slipped through his fingers. The 24-year-old Galion man sat in Common Pleas Court to face various intervention violations. On Dec. 5 Melba admitted to using crack cocaine and heroin as well as possessing drug paraphernalia. Since July 15, the day he pleaded guilty to drug possession, Melba has failed to comply with his court-ordered substance abuse counseling. Wiseman appointed Michael Bear as Melba’s attorney and set bond at $50,000.
Brandon Powell’s community control violations came with a hefty price tag Monday. Twenty-eight-year-old Powell, of Bucyrus, had served time on a 2009 robbery and had been granted judicial release. Powell’s probation had been extended to July 25, 2015. On Nov. 9, 2013, however, Powell had been found in possession of drug paraphernalia. Wiseman appointed attorney Andrew Motter to Powell and, due to this being Powell’s third probation violation, set bond at $50,000.
Brigitte Bibb may have been entrusted as an apartment manager at one time but, due to various circumstances, the assistant county prosecutor now considers her a flight risk. The 45-year-old Galion woman was arraigned in Common Pleas Court Monday afternoon on a felony four theft charge. Wiseman entered a not guilty plea for Bibb and set her bond at $25,000.