By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Serious crimes get serious time and one defendant in Crawford County Common Pleas Court was brought to that realization Wednesday afternoon. Twenty-six-year-old Kyle Miller was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree aggravated robbery.
While Miller’s role was somewhat sketchy in what was supposed to be a purse snatching that became much more serious the night of April 11, there was nothing sketchy about the sentence.
“In my courtroom, if a defendant is guilty of a serious crime justice is swift, justice is harsh. I don’t know how you thought this was going to end any other way,” Judge Sean Leuthold told Miller. “I think the facts not only mandate a prison sentence, but the maximum prison sentence.”
Miller was arrested by Bucyrus police the same night a 68-year-old woman told them two people had robbed her of purse at her home. As Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler revealed, the woman’s door was not locked at the time and two people “bull rushed” the door and injured the victim in the process.
In addition to Miller, police also arrested Yolanda Hendrickson in Marion later that evening. Hendrickson is still facing charges and her case is not resolved. The victim is Hendrickson’s grandmother. The victim’s purse was recovered in the possession of a juvenile.
What is not known is exactly how actively involved Miller was in the incident, whether he led the charge which injured the woman or whether it was one of the others. It was stated in court Wednesday that Hendrickson first presented the idea to Miller.
Miller chose not to make any statement on Wednesday. His attorney, Adam Stone, said that although there was no intent on Miller’s part to harm the victim, he was going to “stand up like a man and take responsibility” for his actions that evening.
“I hope your time in prison will give you the opportunity to learn something and the opportunity to deal with your addiction problem,” Leuthold told Miller.
Miller was also originally charged with a first-degree aggravated burglary in the case and that carried the possibility of a maximum sentence of 11 years. But that count was dropped in exchange for Miller’s guilty plea to the count of robbery. Miller was not fined but was assessed court costs. He will received credit for his time spent in the county jail and will be subject to five years of mandatory post-release control when freed.
Judge Leuthold acknowledged before sentencing Jarret Allen that the offense he was charged with was the result of making bad decisions. But that didn’t stop the prosecutor from recommending the maximum prison sentence, nor the judge from imposing it.
The 21-year-old Bucyrus man was sentenced to 18-months in prison following his guilty plea to the fourth degree felony charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The victim, 14 at the time, gave birth as a result of the relationship.
“That’s why we have laws,” Leuthold said. “Young peoples’ lives are being stolen. This case is serious enough to mandate the maximum sentence.”
Allen was not fined, but must pay court costs and register as a Tier I sex offender for 15 years following his release. He will also be subject to five years of mandatory post-release control.
The judge, like Assistant Prosecutor Hoovler, noted the disparity in age between Allen and the victim. He also took great pains to make sure Allen understood the rules of reporting.
“You need to dot all the i’s and cross all your t’s,” Leuthold said.
The fourth and final person arrested in an April 1 drug bust in Bucyrus appeared in court Wednesday morning for sentencing. Michael Bloomfield was also the only one to avoid prison. That was in large part because as a first offender, and the felony level of the charges against him, he was not prison eligible.
Bloomfield had already pleaded guilty to permitting drug abuse which is a fifth-degree felony. Jonathan Bloomfield, one of the others arrested in the drug bust, was sentenced to eight years in prison for trafficking heroin. Leeann Dalton received a total of 24 months in prison as her sentence and Adam Chapman was sentenced to eight months.
“What were you thinking, Mr. Bloomfield,” the judge asked the defendant.
“I didn’t know what it was at first,” Bloomfield replied.
Bloomfield was sentenced to five years of community control, fined $1,250 and must complete an alcohol and drug program. His driver’s license was also suspended for six months.
“Outside of murder, I think that dealing heroin is the worst crime you can commit,” Leuthold said. “If you go right back at it, you’ll be joining your cohort in prison.”
Dametrius Watters was returned to court Wednesday for an initial hearing on charges he violated his community control. Watters is alleged to have possession of crack cocaine and oxycodone and was also charged by Columbus police with obstruction.
Leuthold appointed Rolf Whitney to represent Watters, but was astounded when told Watters had been released on a personal recognizance bond by a Columbus court in spite of the fact police there had recovered 70 grams of cocaine during the incident on March 6.
“I don’t know how you got a personal recognizance bond down in Columbus,” Leuthold told Watters.
Leuthold set his bond Wednesday at $750,000.
In other court news from Wednesday Ashley Treisch was arraigned on three counts of fifth-degree felony forgery. Bond was set at $100,000 and Timothy O’Leary was appointed as her counsel.
Brooke Castle pleaded guilty to fifth-degree drug possession. The recommended sentence is five years of community control with the stipulation she successfully complete a drug and alcohol treatment program. Castle remains in jail on a $50,000 bond until a pre-sentence investigation is completed.
Michael Raines was arraigned on a charge of fifth-degree felony receiving stolen property. Adam Stone was appointed to represent Raines and bond was set at $150,000.