BUCYRUS — Kevin Hines of Bucyrus appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday to formally reject a state-offered plea deal and to ask for a new attorney.
Hines, 41, is charged with possession of drugs, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison, one charge of trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison, one count of possession of drug abuse instruments, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable with up to 180 days in jail and one count of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor punishable with up to 90 days in jail.
Hines appeared in court with his court-appointed attorney, Geoff Stoll, who presented the state’s offer of a flat five-year prison sentence to Hines, who rejected the offer.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold had Hines brought into the court room to officially reject the plea. At that time, Leuthold addressed Hines’ request for a new attorney.
“Normally when I appoint an attorney, you don’t get to change lawyers,” Leuthold said. “If you hire your own lawyer you can change as often as you want, but when the county is paying, I don’t allow it. However, in this case you are facing over 10 years in prison so I’m going to allow you one change of attorney.”
Hines asked the court for attorney Tom Nicholson to represent him and the request was granted by Leuthold.
In other court news, Wesley Purdue was arraigned via video from the Crawford County Justice Center for violating the terms and conditions of his community control and was indicted on a new felony.
Purdue was placed in the court’s diversion program after pleading guilty to theft in March. According to records, Purdue never paid any program fees or restitution to his victim, had a weapon under disability and was charged in a new theft case, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to 12 months in prison to which Purdue pleaded not guilty. Leuthold ordered the matter be set for a hearing.
A warrant was issued for Brittany Rose, 26, of Cardington. She was scheduled to appear in Common Pleas Court to answer to charges that she violated the terms and conditions of her community control.
Rose pleaded guilty in 2014 to theft, a fourth-degree felony punishable with up to 18 months in prison. She was ordered to pay $457.37 to the victim in the case.
Leuthold ordered Rose arrested and to be held without bail.