By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
A Mount Gilead man asked for another chance Tuesday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. He didn’t get it. Instead 30-year-old Donald Blankenship Jr. was sentenced to return to prison for three years, the balance of a 2011 sentence for burglary. Blankenship was originally sentenced to four years after convicted of that charge and given judicial release after serving one year.
“We’re too far down that road. This court let you out and trusted you,” Judge Russell Wiseman said after Blankenship and his attorney, Sebastian Berger, asked for commitment to a CBCF facility or some other type of drug addiction treatment. “You’re not suitable for community control and you’ve proved that.”
Blankenship was in court on charges he violated his community control. Among the charges was that he is currently awaiting trial for felony charges of theft from the elderly and forgery in Morrow County. Blankenship is alleged to have taken money in excess of $5,000 or more.
Berger told the judge the charges are a direct result of Blankenship’s addiction to heroin.
“I’ve always had an addiction problem and I’m asking for rehab,” Blankenship told the judge. “I’m asking for help.”
Assistant prosecutor Ryan Hoovler objected, noting Blankenship never brought up a drug problem to his probation officer or asked him for help until he was facing a return to prison.
Miranda Clum is also headed to prison after she pleaded guilty to the fifth-degree felony charge of drug possession. In an arrangement with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Clum was sentenced to six months in prison and fined $1,250 dollars.
In an unrelated case Chet Mullins was placed on community control for three years after he pleaded guilty to Felony 5 drug possession. The 45-year-old Mullins must also complete a drug and alcohol assessment and any recommended follow-up treatment and pay a $1,250 drug fine.
Jeremiah Enderle was also in Common Pleas Court to answer a charge he violated his community control. Enderle was on the treatment in lieu of conviction program for a 2012 breaking and entering case.
Enderle admitted being possession of drug paraphernalia, failing to report and failing to comply with counseling. Enderle was terminated from the treatment in lieu program, convicted of the original breaking and entering charge and placed on three years of community control. He must also comply with a drug and alcohol assessment and recommended follow-up treatment.