BUCYRUS — A Mansfield man pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a police officer and one count of resisting arrest — both fourth-degree felonies punishable with up to 18 months in prison — in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
Joseph Horvath 23, of Mansfield resisted arrest when Galion police officers were attempting to transport him to the Crawford County Jail. Once at the jail, Horvath became more combative and officers attempted to place him in a restraining chair. During that process, Horvath kicked a corrections officer in the face causing injury.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold gave Horvath the maximum sentence on both counts.
“It seems that every time we turn on the TV, we see people throwing rocks at police. Well we don‘t tolerate that stuff in Crawford County,” Leuthold said. “I suspect meth is at play here. Most people who act crazy like this are on meth.”
Horvath said he was on some substance at the time, but someone slipped it into his drink.
In other court action, Brian Sargent, 41, last listed address as Marion Correctional Institution, pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
Sargent was sent to prison for three years in 2018 after he pleaded guilty to one count of domestic violence, a third-degree felony. He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of violating a protection order.
He was granted judicial release in November 2018 and placed on community control. In early June, Sargent was arrested in Crestline for having weapons under disability, thus violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
In a plea agreement, Leuthold sentenced Sargent to a flat 12 months in prison. Sargent will forfeit the 9mm Ruger handgun, 15 rounds of ammunition, marijuana, and a digital scale to the appropriate authorities.
Wendy Ohler, 37, of Marion pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of her community control. Ohler was placed on probation in June 2019 after she pleaded guilty to theft of drugs, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison. In December 2019 she violated her community control and was sentenced to prison for 18 months. She was granted a judicial release in February.
According to probation officer Kylie Sinclair, Ohler stopped reporting for office visits in April. When apprehended in July she tested positive for meth.
Leuthold ordered Ohler returned to prison for the remainder of her sentence. He told Ohler that if the prison requested transitional control, he would not oppose it.
Dakota Mathews, 21, of Mansfield pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control.
Mathews was charged with discharging a firearm in Mansfield and is facing charges there. Mathews entered a general admission to the allegations.
Mathews originally pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony. He was given the maximum sentence of 18 months and granted judicial release in October 2018 and placed on community control.
Leuthold imposed the original 18 months prison sentence. Mathews will receive 263 days of jail time credit.
Quentin Jenkins, 24, last listed address as the Marion Correctional Institution pleaded guilty to violating the terms and conditions of his community control. Jenkins pleaded guilty in 2019 to three counts of having weapons under disability, each a third-degree felony punishable with up to three years in prison.
According to probation officer Jeremy Clay, in July Jenkins gave a false statement to police and pleaded guilty to the falsification. He also violated an order of protection. When arrested, Jenkins was found living with the victim with whom he was ordered to have no contact.
In April 2019, he was sentenced to three years in prison. In May, he was granted judicial release and placed on community control.
Leuthold imposed the remainder of the three-year prison sentence. Leuthold told Jenkins he would not oppose transitional control if the prison requested it.