By Kathy Laird
The first day of court in 2018 began on much the same note that the previous year ended.
Three defendants were sent to prison and one familiar face was placed on five years of felony community control Wednesday morning in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Camille Sargent, 42, and listed as homeless, changed her plea to guilty on a charge of possession of drugs.
Judge Sean Leuthold accepted a plea agreement and sentenced Sargent accordingly.
She was given the maximum sentence of 12 months in prison with a negotiated possible early release. She was fined $1,250 and must forfeit all drug-related property to the Galion Police Department.
Charles Baker, 34, of Galion came into court as a result of violating the conditions of his community control.
According to Probation Officer Dan Wurm, Baker failed to appear for a scheduled appointment with the probation department Nov. 15.
On Nov. 24, Baker overdosed at the Valero gas station in Bucyrus causing emergency medical responders to administer a Narcan shot to revive him. He also had syringes in his possession that he admitted contained heroin.
Leuthold imposed his original 30-month prison sentence and gave him an additional six months in prison for the new charge. In accordance with the plea agreement, the prosecution will not pursue misdemeanor charges related to the case. Baker also was fined $1,250 on each count.
Before concluding sentencing, Leuthold had some stern advice for Baker.
“I don’t feel bad about sending you to prison, because if I weren’t you’d be dead in six months,” Leuthold said. “There are good programs in prison. Get in them and turn your life around. You are lucky to be alive.”
Baker will get credit for prison and jail time previously served.
Matthew Sweet, 60, of Mansfield came from prison to appear before Leuthold.
Sweet pleaded guilty to possession of dangerous drugs. He received an additional six months in prison and must forfeit all drug-related property to the Galion Police Department.
Just as Leuthold rose from the ranks of municipal court to the Common Pleas Court, defendant Aacin Webb decided to follow.
Remembering his many appearances in municipal court the judge asked Webb, “Did you miss me? I doubt that honestly but here you are in my court. It’s different in this court; do you understand that?”
Webb affirmed that he knew this was serious. Webb was serving time on a municipal court charge when he became angry and slammed a jail door so hard that it broke the lock.
“You have managed to do what most people can’t do,” Leuthold said. “You’ve managed to catch a felony charge while you’re serving time in jail.”
Noting that to this point Webb was not prison eligible, Leuthold had no choice but to put him on felony community control.
“How many misdemeanors have you had Mr. Webb?” Leuthold asked.
“Eight or nine judge,” Webb replied.
Noting that things are handled a lot differently in Common Pleas Court, Leuthold warned Webb that after today he is prison eligible.
Since Webb has been in jail approximately 83 days, Leuthold did not order further jail time.
“You’re 21, this is your chance to change. You don’t want to come back and see me as a felon who violated community control,” admonished Leuthold.
Webb will serve five years on Community Control and was ordered to pay the Sherriff’s Department $475.80 for damages to the door.