By Kathy Laird
CCN Reporter

BUCYRUS — In what began as a routing bond continuation hearing Monday, became the focal point of Judge Sean Leuthold’s ire.

Michael Osborne, 46, of Crestline was convicted in 2017 on a drug possession charge and was placed on community control. Osborne recently completed treatment in a community based correctional facility.

Osborne showed up for his continued bond and submitted to routine testing.  Leuthold may order testing at any time according to the terms and conditions of a Osborne’s community control.

Osborne appeared in court with his attorney Grant Garverick. When a urine sample was obtained after a few hours, probation officer Eric Bohach informed the court that Osborne tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and possible alcohol

Osborne adamantly denied taking any drugs.

Upon further questioning from Leuthold, Osborne said he had fallen off a ladder a few days earlier and had to go to an area emergency room for back pain. Osborne had his discharge paperwork and was still wearing the identification band issued to him at the emergency room.

Leuthold said he wasn’t buying Osborne’s story.

Gaverick asked the court to give Osborne until Tuesday to obtain a report of the drugs he had been administered in the emergency room. Leuthold set the hearing for 1 p.m., Tuesday.

Osborne appeared at the hearing with the paperwork from the hospital. The emergency room had given him a back injection with both morphine and fentanyl in it. Osborne testified Monday that he asked the ER for pain meds without addictive additives, but when pressed in court on Tuesday he could not remember if he told the ER he was a recovering addict.

Leuthold continued Osborne’s bond, but had a lot to say about the situation.

“I don’t trust you Mr. Osborne,” Leuthold said. “I suspect that you either went there to mask the other drugs in your system or to just get drugs. I worry about you. You’re an addict and you got shot up at an emergency room. Now here you are, your body having gotten a taste of drugs and you have nowhere to go with it expect to trouble. I find this entire situation stunning.”

Leuthold went on to say that his suspicions were not enough to revoke Osborne’s bond, but that he wanted his comments on the record.

Osborne tried to speak further to his progress.

Leuthold told him, “I’ve heard enough explanations out of you. I want to see actions. Time will tell.”