BUCYRUS — Five defendants appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday to answer to various allegations.
Walter Culp, 47, of Lima found himself spending his birthday answering to allegations he violated the terms of his bond. Culp was indicted by the June Grand Jury on one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison and one count of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable with up to 180 days in jail.
Culp allegedly got rid of a wallet stolen from a probation officer while he and his wife were in the Galion Municipal Court. Culp posted a $25,000 bond on that case. He was scheduled for a pretrial today in Common Pleas Court.
It is customary that during court appearances while on bond, defendants may be required to take a drug test. Culp first refused the test saying it was not a condition of his bond at the time he posted it. Eventually he agreed to the test and tested positive for meth amphetamines and cocaine. It was brought to the court’s attention that Culp is currently on community control in Lima for a different offense.
Culp’s attorney, Grant Garverick, argued that his client had a lapse last Friday. Culp told the court if he were given a continued bond it would not happen again.
“Look, he posted a $25,000 bond. He’s on community control in Lima and tested positive for drugs in this court today,” Leuthold said. “There is no way I am going to continue this bond. Maybe he wasn’t 100% clear on Crawford County’s rules, but he is in violation of his community control in Lima without question. His bond is raised to $100,000. This guy is on community control and tested positive for meth and cocaine. This is no shock.”
Culp was taken into custody.
In other court action, Jeremy Wise, 40, of Crestline pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. According to probation officer Chris Heydinger, Wise tested positive for meth and methamphetamines in a routine drug screen and admitted to using the drugs.
In a plea negotiation, Leuthold sentenced Wise to a flat eight months in prison.
Shannon Bush, 35, of Bucyrus pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of her community control. According to probation officer Kylie Sinclair, Bush overdosed on meth on May 4, causing emergency personnel to administer Narcan to revive her. She had also failed to report for office visits and possessed a syringe.
In a plea agreement, assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler asked Leuthold to impose 11 months in prison and said he would not seek additional new charges related to the overdose. Leuthold accepted the agreement.
“I’m shaving off one month for a sentence of 10 months in prison,” Leuthold said.
Two Galion men pleaded guilty to the same charges in two separated cases. Noah Thornton, 32 and Johnathon Marks, 47, both of Galion, each pleaded guilty to criminal non-support. Each is a fifth-degree felony, punishable with up to one year in prison.
Both men were sentenced to serve five years on community control and were ordered to pay their child support and any past due support.