BUCYRUS—Vladimir Bondarenko, 63, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas on Thursday via video from the Crawford County Jail to be arraigned on felony charges.
Bondarenko is charged with one count of receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony (auto) punishable with up to 18 months in prison, and another count of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony (license plate) punishable with up to 12 months in prison.
According to allegations, Bondarenko was at a gas station in Galion when he asked a man to help him pay for his gas. That man turned out to be Lt. Craig Moser of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department. Moser, who was off duty at the time, looked in Bondaranko’s window and saw his tank was already full. He asked him why he was asking for help with gas when his tank was full.
Moser called the license plate in, and it was discovered that both the license plate and the 2014 Toyota he was driving were reported stolen.
Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Bandaranko’s behalf and appointed attorney Ed Bibler to represent him.
Judge Leuthold heard arguments on bonds from both the state and defense.
Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall told the court that Bandaranko had stolen vehicle charges pending in North Carolina and Georgia. He had past charges of failure to appear in Wyoming and an OVI in Texas. He asked the court for a $50,000.00 bond. Attorney Tom Nicholson argued for bond purposes on Bandaranko’s behalf.
Nicholson told the court that Bandaranko, a U.S citizen, had migrated here from Ukraine in 1990. He questioned Bandaranko’s ability to understand English. Judge Leuthold stopped proceedings and asked Bandaranko some questions. While Leuthold agreed he may need an interpreter for future proceedings, he believed that Bandaranko could understand the proceedings for bond purposes. He said that he wanted to be fair to the defendant and set his bond.
Judge Leuthold said he would have an interpreter available for future proceedings. Nicholson asked the court for a lower bond since the history presented in court is only alleged crimes.
Based on pending charges, the failure to appear, and the fact that his listed address is in Oklahoma, Judge Leuthold set his bond at $50,000.
In other court news, James Parlett, 50, of Mansfield was arraigned on one count of failure to comply. A third-degree felony punishable with up to 36 months in prison.
Judge Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Parlett’s behalf, appointed attorney Andrew Motter to represent him, and heard arguments for bond.
According to Prosecutor Matt Crall, Parlett fled officers while under suspicion of OVI. Parlett is accused of running several stop signs and leading police on a high-speed chase from Crestline to Mansfield. Crall said speeds were up to 100mph. Spike strips had to be used to stop Parlett.
Parlett has a pending OVI not related to this case and served time for felonious assault and weapons under disability.
Tom Nicholson asked for a low cash bond. Judge Leuthold set Parlett’s bond at $100,000.
Douglas Swart, 58, of Bucyrus, was placed on a $25,000 bond after he was charged with possession of drugs (Gabapentin), a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison. On Thursday, he was indicted on a new but same charge; however, this time possession of Suboxone.
Judge Leuthold entered a not guilty plea on Swart’s behalf and appointed his current attorney, Ed Bibler, to represent him on the new charge. Swart received a personal recognizance bond on the new charge but remained under a $25,000 bond on the first case.